The first sporting events were held as part of the Tokyo Summer Olympics, although the official opening ceremony for the 2020 Games will take place only on July 23.

Japan defeated Australia 8-1 in a men's softball (light version of baseball) group stage match on Wednesday July 21 at the Fukushima arena, 280 kilometers north of Tokyo..

In accordance with the decision of the prefecture, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the match was held without spectators. Softball - for the first time in the program of the Olympics since 2008 Softball at these Games is again included in the program of the Olympics. It was considered an Olympic sport from 1996 to 2008. Six teams will compete for one set of Olympic awards. Pandemic situation remains serious Meanwhile, the pandemic situation in the country remains serious. According to the Worldometer volunteer group, 844,014 people have been infected since the beginning of the epidemic in Japan, 15,060 people have died with a diagnosis of COVID-19. The population of the country exceeds 126 million people.

The Tokyo Olympics were originally planned for July-August 2020, but due to COVID-19, it was postponed and will be held from July 23 to August 8, 2021. It was decided to keep the name "

In connection with the sanctions of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Russian athletes will perform at the Games not under the national flag, but under the flag of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC). In case of their victory, not the anthem of the Russian Federation will be performed, but a fragment of Tchaikovsky's First Concerto. Reported by Deutsche Welle.