Tokyo’s Billion-Dollar Olympic Stadium Nearly Empty For ‘Muted’ Opening Ceremonies

Tokyo’s $1.5 billion Olympic stadium, designed to hold more than 70,000 people, was nearly empty for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games opening ceremonies, with just 950 “VIP” guests in attendance.

Friday’s opening ceremonies were “muted” — a theme that looms over the Tokyo Games, which will take place largely without spectators or fans because of the city’s sudden spike in COVID-19 cases.