When do the Tokyo Olympics start? How can I watch in the UK?

After a year-long postponement due to the COVID-10 pandemic, the best athletes in the world are gathering in Japan to participate in 28 different sports in the hopes of earning a gold medal.

Here's all you need to know:

When do the Olympics start?

The Olympic Opening Ceremony for Tokyo 2021 will take place on Friday July 23 in Tokyo's National Stadium.

Japan is eight hours ahead of London, so while the ceremony will begin at 8pm Japanese time, in the UK it will start at noon. 

How can I watch the Olympic Opening Ceremony?

You can watch the ceremony live on BBC One from 12pm, with coverage fronted by Clare Balding and Alex Scott and commentary provided  by Hazel Irvine and Andrew Cotter. 

How long is the Olympics opening ceremony?

The Olympics opening ceremony is set to be about four hours long. 

What will the ceremony include? 

Opening Ceremonies always involve the lighting of the Olympic flame, to officially announce the start of the Games. 

This year's ceremony is likely to be paired back from previous spectacles to reflect the suffering caused by the pandemic. 

Rowers practice at the Sea Front Waterway ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan

However, it will still aim to showcase the culture of Japan, with speeches and each competing nation announced in French, English and Japanese.

Where are the 2021 Olympics?

Tokyo was awarded the bid for the Olympics, which were originally scheduled to occur in 2020, back in 2013.

The official cost for Japan's government to host the Games is £15.4 billion, but other estimates suggest the actual cost was twice as much.

There are 42 Olympic venues spread across Japan. 

Six GB athletes isolating after being deemed close contacts of Covid passenger

Six British athletes have been forced to quarantine in Tokyo after being deemed close contacts of an individual who tested positive for coronavirus following their flight to Japan.

The six, all members of the athletics team, plus two support staff, are now isolating in their respective hotel rooms at Team GB’s training camp in Yokohama.

In addition, two members of Team GB’s HQ team are in isolation in the Olympic Village following close contact with another individual who tested positive in Japan, taking the total number of affected Team GB individuals to 10.

The British Olympic Association confirmed that the group of eight have all tested negative for the virus and will continue to follow the direction of Games and Japanese government officials.

It is understood the same applies in the further two cases.

The BOA said in a statement: “The British Olympic Association can confirm that six athletes and two staff members from the athletics team, who through no fault of their own have been identified as close contacts of an individual – not from the Team GB delegation – who tested positive for Covid-19 following their inbound flight on 16 July 2021.

“This was identified through Tokyo 2020’s reporting service and the group have since started a period of self-isolation in their rooms at the BOA’s Preparation Camp, in line with Tokyo 2020’s Playbook protocols.

“The group all tested negative at the airport and have continued to test negative upon arrival into the country. They are under the supervision of the Team GB medical team, led by chief medical officer Dr Niall Elliott.

“The BOA continue to operate extensive Covid-19 testing protocols and mitigation measures and follow all respective health guidance from the Government of Japan, TOCOG, the IOC and our local partners in Japan.”