Live from the Olympics opening ceremony: Latest news, updates from the scene in Tokyo

TOKYO — The Olympics are officially here.

The Tokyo 2020 Summer Games start with the opening ceremony, which will air live in the U.S. on Friday (7 a.m. EST, NBC), one day shy of when it was originally scheduled to take place in 2020.

About 950 spectators, mostly dignitaries — such as First Lady Jill Biden — and journalists, will be at Olympic Stadium for the subdued festivities. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee said more than 200 athletes, led by flag-bearers Sue Bird (women's basketball) and Eddy Alvarez (baseball) are expected to march during the ceremony.

Follow along for live updates of the Tokyo Olympics.

Greetings from the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo!

The start of the opening ceremony for the Summer Olympics is now just an hour away, and while the sun is just starting to rise on the East Coast, it's already set here in Tokyo.

The athlete delegations in the traditional "Parade of Nations" are also expected to be noticeably smaller, due to COVID-19, as many athletes still have yet to arrive. Organizers have asked that athletes arrive no earlier than five days before their first day of competition, largely to avoid overcrowding in the Olympic Village.

— Tom Schad, USA TODAY

U.S. flag-bearers Sue Bird, Eddy Alvarez

Bird had a few close friends to go to after she was selected as one of the U.S. flag bearers for the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Games.

Longtime Seattle Storm teammate Lauren Jackson, who had carried the flag for her native Australia in the 2012, texted to say congratulations.

U.S. women’s coach Dawn Staley carried the flag in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, the last time a basketball player had the honor.

“Dawn just gave me the best advice possible,” Bird said Friday. “She said, ‘Listen, the flag’s not that heavy. You’re going to be fine.’ ”

She’ll be joined by Alvarez, a speedskating silver medalist in the Winter Olympics, as the U.S. flag bearers. Hours before the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Games here, Bird looked forward to the ceremony with excitement.

With coronavirus countermeasures in place, the ceremony will go off without fans and with only a few hundred VIPs. Even within hours of the event, Bird didn’t know where athletes would be held or what they would see of other countries’ procession.

“I hope Dawn didn’t lie to me,” she said, “and I hope the flag is light.”

Read more about the selection of Bird and Alvarez.

Which U.S. athletes will march?

The USOPC provided the rough number of 200, though it's unclear who will be there and what the exact number of participants will ultimately be.

The men's and women's basketball teams are expected to march. The gymnasts and most (if not all) of the U.S. swimming team is expected to pass. Don't count on seeing any track and field athletes on hand, either; The vast majority of them will not arrive in Tokyo until later this weekend, or early next week.

— Schad

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Olympics opening ceremony live updates: Inside look at scene in Tokyo