The Olympic Games of this year will be unlike any other. Athletes around the globe have descended on Tokyo amid the novel Coronavirus pandemic to keep the spirit of sports alive and, in turn, give viewers hope. While the Tokyo Olympics have caused controversy, fortunately for many, they have been a welcome respite from a pandemic.
The opening ceremony on Friday was filled with color as it celebrated the diversity of nationalities. In addition, the Olympics in Tokyo brought about a significant change; for the first time, two flag bearers will represent two different genders to combat gender inequality.
The Olympics is not just about sports but fashion as well. Contingents presented some entrancing fashion choices during the opening ceremony of the Games. They displayed their cultures and held the flags of their countries, which made international headlines. All eyes were on the athletes and their outfits as they marched into the stadium representing their countries.
A heartwarming opening ceremony with zero audiences for the first time in history.
Here are just a few of the flag bearers from the Tokyo Olympics representing diverse countries.
TONGA
Pita Toufatofua and Malia Pesika, the taekwondo athletes, and the flag bearers’ traditional Tonga attire drew social media attention specifically because Toufatofua was shirtless and oiled up. Taufatofua has previously explained that he covers himself in coconut oil, which is part of Indigenous culture in Oceania and celebrates the symmetry of the human body.
NEW ZEALAND
The dual flag-bearers, Sarah Hirini, rugby superstar, and David Nyika, gold medalist in rowing, both wore the Te Māhutonga cloak over their suits, as worn by the New Zealand flag-bearer at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The Maori feather cloak is a traditional textile that gives the distinguished wearer additional mana since it is associated with the previous athletes who wore it.
(Photos / Photosport / Getty Images)
TUVALU
In colorful skirts, flower crowns, lush armbands, and Tuvalu-printed masks, flag bearers and track and field athletes from the tiny island nation of Tuvalu marched barefoot.
ANGOLA
Handball star Natalia Bernardo, who carried the flag of Angola, and the country’s other athletes turned the opening ceremony into a runway with red and yellow accents. Bernardo’s golden skirt sparkled under the stadium lights, whereas the patterns on his black attire twirled together from a distance with exquisite details in close-up.
GHANA
Nadia Eke, a triple jump champion and entrepreneur, represented the flag of Ghana. Each player wore white outfits with intricate patterns in the center in the colors of their national flags.
Photo: Xinhua/Zheng Huansong
COLOMBIA
The flag bearers in athletics, Caterine Ibarguen and Yuberjen Herney Martinez Rivas wore spectacular hats and flowing printed kimonos to honor Japan’s tradition and their arrival in Tokyo.
BRAZIL
Judo athlete Ketleyn Quadros and volleyball player Bruno Rezende both the flag bearers, wore casual attire, as did the rest of the athletes. Not only did they dance their way into the stadium, but the delegates from Brazil also wore tropical button-downs in the colors of their flag!
BERMUDA
Would you expect Bermuda to arrive in anything other than the shorts for which they’re famous? Dara Alizadeh, the rowing expert, carries the national flag as they sing the ‘Bermuda Shorts’ jingle from Old Navy’s iconic 2005 commercial.
ITALY
The flag bearers for Italy were Jessica Rossi from shooting and Elia Viviani from cycling. They wore tracksuits and jerseys designed by Giorgio Armani like the other Italian players. The design naturally featured a circular version of the Italian flag, with ‘Italia’ displayed in a Japanese typeface. The Upsidedown Pacman with Italian flags on Armani suits was too good to miss, though Italian fashion had higher expectations.
GREECE
Anna Korakaki, shooting, and Eleftherios Petrounias, gymnastics, both flag bearers, wore the same attire as the rest of the squad. While the men’s uniforms were pretty basic, the women in the Greek delegation wore super-chic pleated skirts.
PORTUGAL
The flag bearers from Judo, Telma Monteiro, and Athletics, Nelson Évora, entered with simple white and navy blue bomber jackets as their fashion statement, matching other Portuguese players.
USA
Business on top, party on the bottom! Team USA included baseball player Eddy Alvarez and basketball player Sue Bird in Ralph Lauren garments, dressed in dark denim pants, striped shirts, and blazers.
BHUTAN
Four athletes and coaches represented Bhutan, including archer Karma Karma and swimmer Sangay Tenzin, the flag bearers. They wore traditional Bhutanese ensembles with intricate details.
INDIA
The boxing champion, Mary Kom, and field hockey star Manpreet Singh represented the Indian flag with matching uniforms for the Indian team. Women wore traditional khadi silk golden salwar suits with jackets, while men wore navy blue traditional Galabandh, indigenous jackets with high embroidered collars.
JAPAN
The parade culminated with a march by host nation Japan, which brought fans bearing their country’s flag. Yui Susaki, from wrestling, and Rui Hachimura, from basketball, carried the flags at the opening ceremony of Tokyo Olympics 2020.
