Tokyo Olympic News LIVE: All the latest news and updates from Japan

Tokyo Olympic News LIVE: All the latest as Team GB’s women’s football side take on Chile, while Games chief Toshiro Muto refuses to rule out a last-minute cancellation as Friday’s Opening Ceremony approaches

By Sportsmail

Published: 09:05 BST, 21 July 2021 | Updated: 09:05 BST, 21 July 2021

After a year-long delay, the Tokyo Olympics is finally here with the Olympic Ceremony set to take place on Friday.

The competition had been due to take place last summer but was pushed back by 12 months due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

The Games will be like none other seen in the past, with fans prohibited from the venues with Tokyo under a fourth state of emergency, while head of the organising committee Toshiro Muto has still not ruled out a last-minute cancellation.

Nonetheless, with fans absent it’s the athletes that will take centre stage. And though the Opening Ceremony is not until Friday, the action has already started with a number of disciplines getting underway on Wednesday, including Team GB’s women’s football team.

With the Olympics taking place in Japan, a large proportion of the action will take place between midnight and 3pm BST for UK viewers.

But not to worry, as Sportsmail will keep you up-to-date with all the latest news and updates right through until the closing ceremony on August 8.

09:00, 21 July 2021

Team GB athletes will produce a record low turnout for Olympic Games opening ceremony in Tokyo with just THIRTY choosing to attend over Covid fears… as a Chilean taekwondo player and Dutch skateboarder see their games ended after contracting the virus

The Team GB delegation at the Opening Ceremony will only number around 30 – with concerned athletes choosing not to attend the showpiece event amid concerns over Covid-19. The development comes as Chilean taekwondo player Fernanda Aguirre and Dutch skateboarder Candy Jacobs were ruled out of the Games after testing positive for Covid-19. A record low turnout will walk behind the union flag on Friday night, at a show which will be broadcast to millions around the world. Officials had hoped around 50 athletes would take part, which would still represent a fraction of the usual 200 in non-pandemic times.