Firisua leads Team Solomon as Tokyo Olympic Games opens

Long distance female champion Sharon Firisua led the Solomon Islands small contingent at tonight’s opening of the Tokyo Olympics. Swimmer Edgar Iro was the co-flag bearer with Firisua.

After an extra year of waiting, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games finally opened at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium behind closed doors.

The biggest sporting event on the planet is exactly one year later than originally planned due to the postponement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Only about 950 people, including officials and reporters, were allowed into the 68,000-capacity venue to watch the opening ceremony.

Solomon Islands is represented by a small team with Firisua to compete in the women’s marathon and Mary Kini Lifu in Weightlifting.

The athletes are being accompanied by team officials which includes NOCSI President Martin Rara, NOCSI General Secretary Melinda Avosa, Weightlifting head coach Apollos Saeg, Swimming head coach Stance Sanga and athletics head coach and Olympiad Francis Manioru. The third athlete is Edgar who will be competing in swimming.

The Tokyo Olympic Games, attracting 11,000 athletes from 206 delegations and the refugee team, will run through August 8.