Popsugar Health & Fitness Summer Olympics 2021 2021 Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony Photos See Pics From the 2021 Olympics Opening Ceremony Including Shirtless Flag Bearers and 1,824 Drones 23 July 2021 by Jenny Sugar Image Source: Getty / Lintao Zhang The Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony may have been in a mostly empty stadium, but the energy and excitement was still high. In case you missed the real-time broadcast, Friday at 8 p.m. Tokyo-time, here are the most powerful moments to remember including basketball player Sue Bird being one of Team USA's flag bearers, and tennis champion Naomi Osaka lighting the Olympic Cauldron. Keep reading to live (or re-live) these special Olympic Ceremony moments. Related: Why Wasn't Simone Biles at the Olympics Opening Ceremony? Don't Worry, She Still Got to Celebrate! 2021 Olympics Opening Ceremony: Athlete Runs on Treadmill Image Source: Getty / Icon Sportswire Japanese boxer Arisa Tsubata ran on a treadmill to symbolize how many athletes had to train in isolation, but stayed connected through their collective passion to compete. 1 / 14 2021 Olympics Opening Ceremony: The National Anthem Image Source: Getty / HANNAH MCKAY The Japan national anthem was sung by Misia, as members of Japan's Self Defence Forces held the Japanese flag. 2 / 14 2021 Olympics Opening Ceremony: Fireworks Launch From the Ceiling Image Source: Getty / Wally Skalij The fireworks launching from the ceiling of the stadium at multiple times during the ceremony were really impressive! 3 / 14 2021 Olympics Opening Ceremony: Tap Dancers Perform on Tables Image Source: Getty / Abbie Parr Tap dancers dressed as carpenters performed to a traditional work song called the "Kiyari Uta," performed by members of the Edo Firemanship Preservation Association. 4 / 14 2021 Olympics Opening Ceremony: Dancers Create a Web Image Source: Getty / Abbie Parr This part of the performance was meant to represent the inner blood vessels of the athletes as they trained during the pandemic. Dancers used beige toned clothing and red elastic to represent the bodily functions that are present within every athlete. 5 / 14 2021 Olympics Opening Ceremony: The Olympic Rings Are Formed Image Source: Getty / Maja Hitij The Olympic Rings were made from wood that was grown from seeds brought by international athletes to Tokyo the last time they hosted the Games in 1964. 6 / 14 2021 Olympics Opening Ceremony: Greece Is the First to Enter During the Parade of Nations Image Source: Getty / MARTIN BUREAU Greece is always first since that's where the Games originated. Then the order followed the Japanese alphabet, with future Olympic host countries being last. 7 / 14 2021 Olympics Opening Ceremony: Shirtless Flag Bearers Image Source: Getty / Jamie Squire Shirtless and oiled up, Pita Taufatofua was the Tongan flag bearer you just can't miss. For more shirtless action, check out Riilio Rii from Vanuatuan. 8 / 14 2021 Olympics Opening Ceremony: Sue Bird and Eddy Alvarez Are Team USA Flag Bearers Image Source: Getty / Clive Brunskill Team USA was third-to-last to enter in the Parade of Nations, with basketball player Sue Bird and baseball player Eddy Alvarez holding the American flag. 9 / 14 2021 Olympics Opening Ceremony: Drones Form a Planet in the Sky Image Source: Getty / Clive Rose In a stunning spectacle, 1,824 drones form planet Earth in the sky above the stadium, as a junior chorus sings John Lennon's "Imagine." It was very moving. Then there's a video shown of artists around the world singing along, including American singers John Legend and Keith Urban. 10 / 14 2021 Olympics Opening Ceremony: Tokyo President Seiko Hashimoto & IOC President Thomas Bach Speech Image Source: Getty / Hannah McKay - Pool Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto gave a heartfelt, almost teary speech hoping the Olympics will offer a moment of peace. Then IOC President Thomas Bach thanks Japan for hosting the Games, and takes time to welcome the refugee athletes. 11 / 14 2021 Olympics Opening Ceremony: Japanese Pianist Hiromi Performs Image Source: Getty / ODD ANDERSEN Jazz pianist Hiromias lively played as legendary Kabuki actor Ebizo Ichikawa performed on the stage that represents Mount Fuji and the sun. 12 / 14 2021 Olympics Opening Ceremony: Performers Recreate Olympic Sport Pictograms Image Source: Getty / Cameron Spencer Performers recreated the 50 Olympic sports with live human pictograms, including basketball, fencing, and skateboarding. 13 / 14 2021 Olympics Opening Ceremony: Naomi Osaka Lights the Olympic Cauldron Image Source: Getty / Maddie Meyer Naomi Osaka, who's representing Japan, was the final torchbearer who lit the Olympic Cauldron. 14 / 14 Summer Olympics 2021AthletesWorkoutsOlympicsOpening Ceremony