The Olympic events worth watching today
The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Japan’s Naomi Osaka hits a forehand during her first-round match against China’s Zheng Saisai on July 25.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Brazilian surfer Italo Ferreira rides a wave during an early heat on July 25. This is the first year that surfing is in the Olympics.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Marina Nekrasova, a gymnast from Azerbaijan, competes on the uneven bars during the qualification round on July 25.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Italy’s Alessandro Velotto moves the ball during a water polo match against South Africa on July 25.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Hungarian fencer Flora Pasztor, left, competes against Algeria’s Meriem Mebarki on July 25.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Australian swimmers celebrate together after they won gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay on July 25. They also set a new world record (3:29.69). Clockwise from left are Meg Harris, Emma McKeon, Bronte Campbell and Cate Campbell.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
German beach-volleyball players Julia Sude and Karla Borger play Switzerland’s Anouk Vergé-Dépré and Joana Heidrich in an empty Shiokaze Park on Saturday, July 24.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Iran’s Meisam Salehi serves during a volleyball match against Poland on July 24.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Hend Zaza, the youngest Olympian this summer, competes in table tennis on July 24. The 12-year-old Syrian was knocked out in the preliminary round, losing 4-0 to Austrian Jia Liu.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Japan’s Naohisa Takato, in blue, competes against Georgia’s Lukhumi Chkhvimiani during a judo quarterfinal on July 24. Takato would go on to claim Japan’s first gold medal of these Olympics, winning the 60-kilogram division by defeating Chinese Taipei’s Yang Yung-wei in the final.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Fans wait at the finish of the men’s cycling road race on July 24. The Fuji International Speedway, in Oyama, Japan, is one of the five Olympic venues open to fans this year.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Nigerian gymnast Uche Eke competes on the horizontal bar on July 24.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Chinese fencer Sun Yiwen celebrates with her coach Hugues Obry after winning gold in the épée on July 24.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
A staff member picks up the mouthguard of Great Britain’s Peter McGrail during a boxing match on July 24.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
China’s Yang Qian, the first gold-medal winner of these Olympics, celebrates on July 24. She finished first in the 10-meter air rifle.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Badminton players compete amid rows of empty seats on July 24.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
American boxer Delante Johnson takes a punch from Argentina’s Brian Agustin Arregui during their welterweight bout on July 24. But Johnson won the fight 3-2.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka lights the Olympic cauldron at the end of the opening ceremony on Friday, July 23.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Fireworks go off after Osaka lit the Olympic cauldron.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
An overhead view of Osaka lighting the cauldron. The cauldron was designed in the shape of a cherry blossom.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
The Olympic flag is raised near the end of the opening ceremony.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Seiko Hashimoto, president of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee, makes a speech during the opening ceremony. At left is Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Japanese jazz composer Hiromi Uehara plays the piano during the opening ceremony.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
The Olympic flag is carried toward the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito delivers a speech and formally opens the Olympic Games.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Members of the Refugee Olympic Team march during the parade of nations.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Tongan flag-bearer Pita Taufatofua made headlines for going shirtless at the 2016 and 2018 opening ceremonies, and he was at it again in Tokyo. He will be competing in taekwondo.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Athletes from the United States march during the customary parade of nations.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
During one portion of the opening ceremony, there were 1,800 drones flying over the stadium to form a globe in the night sky. As the glowing drones soared over the stadium, performers sang “Imagine” by John Lennon.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Athletes from various nations sit during the opening ceremony.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Athletes from Team Norway take part in the parade of nations.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
The Olympic teams from every country watch performers on stage.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
US athletes hold an American flag during the parade of nations.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Russian athletes pose for a photo during the opening ceremony.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
A police officer is seen in the mostly empty stadium on July 23. Organizers said that for the opening ceremony, only 950 VIPs would be present in a stadium that can seat nearly 70,000 people.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
French athletes march during the opening ceremony.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
A member of Egypt’s delegation enters the stadium during the parade of nations.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
British flag-bearers Hannah Mills and Mohamed Sbihi lead out the team during the opening ceremony’s parade of nations. Sbihi, a rower, made history as Great Britain’s first Muslim flag-bearer.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Greece’s athletes march into the stadium to kick off the parade of nations.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Dancers take part in the start of the opening ceremony.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
People perform during the opening ceremony.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
The Japanese flag is carried during the opening ceremony. After the Japanese National Anthem was sung, a moment of silence was called to remember the global victims of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
A performer acts during the opening ceremony.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
The start of the ceremony reflected the isolated training that many athletes had to do during the pandemic.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Jill Biden, the first lady of the United States, takes part in a moment of silence during the opening ceremony.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
A lone performer is seen during the start of the opening ceremony.
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
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The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Fireworks explode over the stadium as the opening ceremony got underway.
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