Tokyo

Paralympics get underway with powerful opening ceremony

The words of Tokyo 2020 organisers, as the Paralympic Games finally opened, 364 days later than planned and after a year of the utmost difficulties.

The Games began with an opening ceremony full of colour and celebration interjected with a touch of poignancy, a concept of 'We Have Wings' which organisers said was intended to raise awareness of the courage of Paralympians.

"I cannot believe we are finally here," said Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee, in his opening speech.

Tonga Olympians prepared for long wait in NZ before flying home

Six athletes and officials have completed 14 days in managed isolation in a Christchurch hotel, with one more due to be released from MIQ today.

The Secretary General of the Tonga Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (TASANOC), Takitoa Taumoepeau, was one of four released from quarantine on Sunday and is already adjusting to lockdown life.

"We are staying with our family, three of us," he said.

Knife-wielding man injures 10 on Tokyo train

The suspect, 36, allegedly told police he became angry when he saw women who "looked happy" and wanted to kill them, according to local media reports.

One victim, a female student, is said to be seriously injured, while the others suffered less severe injuries.

Violent crime is rare in Japan and tight security measures are in place in Tokyo, which is hosting the Olympics.

The man attacked passengers on a train near Seijogakuen station at about 20:40 (11:40 BST) on Friday.

Tokyo Olympics: Naomi Osaka & Novak Djokovic reach third round

Second seed Osaka, the favourite for the gold medal following world number one Ashleigh Barty's first-round exit, beat the Swiss 6-3 6-2.

Osaka will face Marketa Vondrousova, who beat Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-1 6-2, for a quarter-final spot.

World number one Novak Djokovic beat Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4 6-3.

Djokovic is bidding for a first Olympic gold medal after winning bronze in Beijing 2008.

Covid-19 cases at Olympic Village 'no surprise' says Rob Waddell

Waddell confirmed no Kiwi athletes were being considered close contacts.

New Zealand's presence in the Olympic Athletes Village in Tokyo has swelled by more than 150 following the arrival of swimmers, boxers, rowers and hockey players yesterday.

It coincided with a second case of Covid-19 being identified elsewhere in the village.

Games organisers won't say who has contracted the virus, other than that both cases are from the same team and sport.

Olympics: Tokyo bans spectators amid Covid-19 emergency

The move marked a sharp turnaround from as recently as last week, when some officials were still insisting they could organise the Games safely with some fans.

It all but strips the global sporting showpiece, which is due to start on 23 July and run until 8 August, of its last vestiges of pomp and public spectacle.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said it was essential to prevent Tokyo, where the highly contagious Delta variant of Covid-19 variant was spreading, from becoming a flashpoint of new infections.

Olympic organisers tell public to stay away from marathon and race walk events

The two events take place in Sapporo, which still has emergency Covid measures in place.

Organisers said "to reduce the risk of infection" they would restrict "the movement of members of the public".

The Games, delayed a year because of the pandemic, start on 23 July.

Event organisers said they had met police and local government officials to discuss arrangements for the race walk events, which take place on 6 August, and the women's and men's marathons, which take place over the following two days.

Australia's softball team the first athletes to arrive in Japan

The team will attend a training camp in the city of Ota before moving to the Athletes' Village in Tokyo on 17 July.

All members of the delegation have been vaccinated against Covid-19 and will be tested for the virus every day.

The Games are scheduled to begin on 23 July despite Japan battling a surge in coronavirus cases.

While in Ota the Australia squad, who all tested negative for the virus upon arrival in the country, will be confined to one floor of their hotel and will only be able to leave the building to train.

Super Nintendo World opens in Japan after Covid delays

Super Nintendo World - which cost about $0.5bn ($0.36bn) to build - was meant to open last summer but was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Initially only Japanese visitors can go amid international travel bans.

For Nintendo, it represents part of a move from games firm to entertainment company.

At first the park will take half of the visitors it can accommodate to comply with social-distancing measures. Visitors will need to wear masks in most areas.

Powerful earthquake rocks Japan weeks from disaster anniversary

The 7.3-magnitude quake was felt strongly in Tokyo, but a tsunami warning has not been issued.

There are reports of about 50 people injured, officials say, and almost one million homes are without power.

The quake struck near the epicentre of a 2011 earthquake which triggered a tsunami and killed over 18,000 people.

That tsunami caused a nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant - the world's most severe nuclear accident since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.