For many in attendance, though in parts of the stadium, you could see a swathe of empty seats, still, the opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games felt like a necessary reset after a turbulent build-up. 

It was not the kind of grand opening spectacle we have come to expect, and it was far from flamboyant, lavish, or bursting with an extravagant array of colour. Yet, it was neither muted nor low-key. Instead, Japan presented a thoughtfully crafted event, attractive enough to redirect the focus to what the Games are truly meant to accomplish: bringing athletes together for high-level competition.