ONE of the consequences of the decisions to exclude spectators from the Olympics in Tokyo due to Covid will be a considerably muted opening ceremony on Friday, certainly compared to 1964 when the Games were last held there. Scottish athlete David Stevenson from Langholm, a pole vaulter, was a member of the British team and recalled: “One of my abiding memories of the Games was walking into the packed National Stadium with all the teams for the opening ceremony and hearing the deafening roar of the crowd. It was a truly amazing experience.” That also provided a vivid memory for another team member, long jumper Alix Jamieson from Glasgow, as did the scene at Tokyo airport after a lengthy flight involving six stopovers.