Paralympics Games open in Tokyo

By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

ANKARA (AA) - The Tokyo Paralympic Games 2020 opened Tuesday with an opening ceremony.

The Games were postponed for one year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Japanese Emperor Naruhito declared the 2020 Paralympics open at the Tokyo National Stadium.

Tokyo became the first city to host the Summer Paralympics twice. The first one was in 1964.

A total of 4,403 athletes from 161 countries and regions and a small refugee team will participate in 539 medal events in 22 sports.

Taekwondo and badminton will be held for the first time during the 2020 Paralympics.

- COVID-19 pandemic

Infections in Japan are currently at a worrying level.

Tokyo's daily infection figure has been more than 5,000 lately, roughly three times higher than the start of the Olympics on July 23.

Samoa, Kiribati, Tonga and Vanuatu were unable to send athletes to Japan due to the pandemic.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee developed COVID-19 playbooks regarding the organization.

Participants will be tested daily for the virus and must wear face masks and maintain social distancing even in the athletes' village.