According to reports, Nintendo originally planned to participate in Tokyo 2020 Olympics' opening ceremony, which was held last week on July 23. The opening ceremony did feature it at least a few gaming nods during The Parade of Nations, wherein orchestral versions of popular video game music accompanied the procession. Chrono Trigger, Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, and Sonic the Hedgehog renditions all featured in the medley.

Nintendo's conspicuous absence from the festivities especially raised eyebrows given the brand's famous involvement in the Closing Ceremony for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. A roughly one-minute video saw the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, lamenting his inability to make it to the Olympic Games on time. Some clever editing transformed Shinzo Abe into Mario, allowing him to take a Super Mario pipe to the Closing Ceremony and emerge fully clad in the plumber's iconic costume. Apparently, Nintendo intended to join 2020's Olympic Games but plans changed at the last minute.

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A report from Japanese magazine Shukan Bunshun, translated by VGC, claims Nintendo removed previously scheduled content from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony. Shukan Bunshun allegedly gained access to 10 script proposals for the ceremony, which indicate Nintendo played an instrumental part in a scrapped gaming-centric sequence. The segment would've involved content including an introduction performance inspired by the "8-bit world of video games." Reportedly, the deletion of Nintendo content from this section led to "mixed feelings" that ultimately culminated in the company's full withdrawal late in the planning phase.

Naomi Watanabe, Lady Gaga, Nintendo Tokyo 2020 pitch doc

Shukan Bunshun's write-up additionally claims Shigeru Miyamoto, the creative force behind Mario and Zelda, regularly met with choreographer Mikiko Mizuno to design the introductory sequence early on. But the Olympics' delay to 2021 eventually gave way to the advent of a new Creative Director, Hiroshi Sasaki, who later stepped aside following a derogatory pitch involving a comedian. Mizuno's departure from the project further derailed previously laid plans. Several script revisions meant ideas such as Miyamoto's introduction segment and a supposed collaboration between Nintendo, Lady Gaga, and comedian Naomi Watanabe fell to the cutting room floor.

Though the Japanese magazine reached out to Nintendo for a comment, the publisher wouldn't offer a response to the information featured in the script documents. As if often the case in these circumstances, then, it's best to take the above with a pinch of salt.

Despite Nintendo's absence from the festivities, video games still received plenty of love during the Olympic Games. For example, in addition to the aforementioned musical medley, Russian sports shooter Vitalina Batsarashkina rocked a Cat School Medallion from The Witcher 3 while competing.

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The Tokyo 2020 Olympics started on July 23, 2021 and last until August 8, 2021.

Source: Shukan Bunshun via VGC