Delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Olympic Games are finally debuting live, and it’s been a whirlwind of excitement to say the least. With new sports and protocols, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are already making history. Here’s a couple highlights of the games so far: 

OPENING CEREMONY

Starting out strong on the first day, the Olympics Opening Ceremony is always a spectacle to revel and take in, and this year certainly did not lack when it came to exuberance and extravaganza. From worldwide fashions — which we can’t stop thinking about — on display, to fireworks and performances, the Opening Ceremony this year still proved to be a ceremony of pride and delight despite being host to an empty stadium due to COVID-19 restrictions. To top it all of, tennis star Naomi Osaka lit the Olympic cauldron signifying the start of the games. 

PHILIPPINES’ FIRST GOLD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAsKT0wORO0

Hidilyn Diaz, 30 year-old weightlifter from the Philippines, won the country’s first gold medal in the women’s 55-kilogram weightlifting competition. With a lift of 224 kilograms, she not only created history for her home-country, but the competition as a whole as she set an Olympic record with her total score.

FAMILY AFFAIR 

Japanese siblings Uta and Hifumi Abe both took home gold medals on the same day in their individual judo competitions, marking Olympic history as the first brother-sister duo to do so. Hifumi won the men’s 66-kilogram crown while Uta won the women’s 52-kilogram crown, all within the same hour. We’re pretty sure they’ve got something to talk about at the next family dinner. 

WOMEN’S SKATEBOARDING

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWz–lUTl5k

This year’s Olympics marks the first time skateboarding is considered an Olympic sport, and the results aren’t anything less than legendary. 13-year-old Momiji Nishiya of Japan took home the sport’s first gold medal ever yesterday for the women’s street skateboarding competition while 13-year-old Rayssa Leal from Brazil took silver. With grand tricks and intense falls, women’s skateboarding had us all on the edge of our seats, quickly becoming our favorite competition so far. 

HOME VIDEOS

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, spectators and audience were not permitted at the competition this year. Because of that, at-home content from families supporting their Olympian from home have surfaced, igniting wholesome videos and definite tears. For example, when Ahmed Hafnaoui from Tunisia took home the gold in the men’s swimming 400m freestyle competition, a video of his family watching his win from home gained traction. With screams of joy and pride, they watch him make history and find victory. 

INSIDE LOOK

@tillykearns

Olympic dining hall COVID protocols #olympicspirit #tokyoolympics #olympics #australia what else do you want to see??

♬ Say So (Instrumental Version) [Originally Performed by Doja Cat] – Elliot Van Coup

Thanks to Tik Tok, us viewers from home get to see an inside-peek into the dynamic of the Olympic Village. From the dining hall, to room tours to Olympian’s shooting their shot at fellow Olympians, it feels almost as if we’re in Tokyo with them. While it’s still the early days of the competition, we’re excited to see what exclusive content is to come.