Khaldon Azhari

TOKYO: Around 100 protesters gathered outside the Tokyo National Olympic Stadium during the Paralympic Games opening ceremony, with one demonstrator injured and another arrested by the police.

Students and activists from outside Tokyo also gathered in hundreds around the stadium and surrounded by riot police that closed the streets leading to the area.

Demonstrators held signs saying “No Paralympics” and shouting through megaphones, denouncing those hosting the Paralympics. They also called on canceling the Paralympics and said that they strongly stand against it. Additionally, they appealed to the emperor to not declare the Paralympics open.

A demonstration leader that was surrounded by police forces, said through a loudspeaker “Stop using the disabled people for your political interests.”

Another participant in the demonstration said, “Stop the Paralympics, which spread discrimination.”

The protesters also denounced the Games being held in front of a selectively restricted audience, while students and others have been facing serious economic difficulties since the start of the COVID-19 crisis.