Schools. Some bars and gyms, now, requiring vaccinations. Alabamas republican governor, begging people to get the shot. Saying the unvaccinated are letting us down. The manhunt in washington, d. C. , after gunmen opened fire on a street packed with people. The country reeling from gun violence. A new name for clevelands majorleague Baseball Team. They will now be called the guardians. A powerful moment, as searchandrescue teams are saluted as they leave the surfside site, one month after the deadly collapse. Record prices for homes in a redhot market. What to know if you are buying or selling. And the legendary Simone Biles One On one with Hoda Kotb. How she plans to soar even higher. This is Nbc Nightly News with lester holt. Reporting tonight from tokyo. Hello, everyone. A view of the Rainbow Bridge across northern Tokyo Bay on a new day in and for tokyo. A palpable sigh of relief here, as the Pandemic Delay 2020 Summer Games finally begin in this summer of 2021. Its earlysaturday morning, on this side of the world. Full competition getting underway. And the first medals to be awarded later today. But perhaps, no Athletic Achievement can match the monumental lift organizers here faced in staging these games. And the teeth of a raging pandemic. A struggle reflected in the Opening Ceremony. The start of a worldwide gathering, unmatched in the covid era. This city, still, very much, in the grips of rising infections. The virus, looming over these games. For athletes, however, none of it changes what brought them here. A quest for olympic medals. Tom llamas starts our coverage. Reporter at times, its felt this day would never come. Athletes from more than 200 countries celebrating the official kickoff to the tokyo games. One of the first truly global events since the pandemic began. The honor of lighting the olympic cauldron going to tennis phenom, naomi osaka. While Team Usa was led by Wnba Star Sue Bird and major leaguer eddie alvarez. Cameras capturing the reaction of their proud families, back home. Im just really, very proud of her. Its an honor to represent her country. Reporter while Tongas Flag Bearer was a Fan Favorite again at his third olympics. Athletes who couldnt be there dressed the part, anyway. Joining in the excitement. The ceremony celebrating the culture and achievements of this beautiful country. Including this showstopper. Those are 1,800 drones. Reporter drones soaring into the sky, creating a globe. And there was this moment of levity. Bringing Olympic Sports icons to life. But there were also reminders of the pandemic, everywhere. First Lady Jill Biden thousand vips inside. Outside, protestors gathered in the shadow of the stadium. 19 newcovid cases were reported today, among people involved with the olympics. Bringing the total to 106. Including american beach volleyball player, taylor crab, devastated to watch the Opening Ceremony from quarantine. It was pretty emotional for me. Reporter crab is vaccinated and asymptomatic. I just am glad, myself, that i took every possible measure i could to make sure that i had the best chance to compete. Reporter u. S. Olympic officials say 83 of american athletes here are vaccinated. Im very confident that we can have a safe and successful games. Reporter and tonight, the games have, finally, begun. All right. So, tom, which sports will hand out medals first . Lester, in just a nurs, we expect to know the medal winners in judo, shooting, archery, and weightlifting. And on saturday, for the first time we are going to watch skate boarding. All right. Things underway here, tom, thanks. Coming up. Mike tirico and i will take a look at the top athletes to watch in these games. A major concern, here, In Tokyo. The same as in the u. S. Soaringcovid cases and not enough people vaccinated. The number of americans at least partially protected now over 187 million. But only inching up, as cases climb. Heres miguel almaguer. Reporter as more help arrives at hardhit hospitals in cities, like springfield, missouri. Tonight, across the country, growing frustration from those on the front lines of a pandemic that should not be spiraling out of control, again. Its a little like being on the titanic and offering People Life boats and having them, you know, repeatedly turn you down. Reporter with stressedmedical centers facing another influx of hospitalizations and deaths, preventable infections are climbing in every state. The Cdc Director calls this a pivotal moment, as more republicans, including the governor of alabama, say its the high number of unvaccinated pushing the nation towards crisis. What is it going to take to get people to get shots in arms . I dont know. You tell me. I have done all i know how to do. I can encourage you to do something but i cant make you take care of yourself. Reporter in nevada, authorities are also baffled as Covid Wards fill up and vaccination sites sit empty. If you are dying today in america from covid, its because essentially youre unvaccinated. Why would you want to die . Reporter 33yearold Kathleen Cruz nearly did die. Telling us, shes still not sure about getting vaccinated. I dont want to be i dont want to just jump into something, not being 100 sure about it. One, two, three. Reporter in the pastseven days, 2 Million more americans were, finally, vaccinated. I didnt know if he was going to make it or not. Reporter Michelle Geiger almost lost husband, randy, to covid and now regrets their decision not to get vaccinated sooner. When you have to go in the vent or you get put in the hospital or icu, and you get segregated from your family because they cant get to you. Thats all the answers that you need on vaccination. Reporter tonight, a lifesaving Vaccine Offering a shot of hope for families, everywhere. 20 of allnew cases here in l. A. County are actually breakthrough infections but officials stress those people are hardly ever hospitalized. Lester. And miguel, i know more School Districts have announced mask mandates. What can you tell us about that . Yeah, thats right. Atlanta, chicago, boston, and los angeles, all saying when students return, theyll need to have masks. Lester. All right. Miguel, thank you. And make a plan for where to get vaccinated. Visit planyourvaccine. Com for more. Lets turn now to americas Crime Wave and the manhunt for two suspects in washington, d. C. , after a shooting had outdoor diners ducking for cover. Heres tom costello. Reporter on The Streets of washington, a burst of gunfire. Restaurant customers running for cover. Two victims down. One thought to be targeted. The other, an innocent bystander. Both survived. Police say the suspects seen jumping into a Getaway Car are still missing. Across The Street from the restaurant, the evidence is still on The Street. The broken glass, the green policeevidence paint. The blood. And the bandages medics used to save the victims. Like many cities across the country, this summer, washington is reeling from gun violence. Over the weekend, Baseball Players and fans ran for cover after a shooting near nationals ballpark. A 6yearold killed in an unrelated driveby. Murders in d. C. Are up 2 , so far, this year, after a dramatic 19 jump last year. I see people doing violent crimes and i see them back in my community months later. Reporter the Police Chief walking the neighborhood today. I have been talking to residents along the way and people are really mad as hell right now and i dont blame them. I am, too. Reporter its happening nationwide. Philadelphia on pace for its most murders, ever. Jackson, mississippi, likely to set another homicide record. Portland, oregon, reporting an epidemic of gun violence. The Attorney General in chicago, where 56 people were shot, 11 killed last weekend. We launched five antigun Trafficking Task forces. Reporter whats behind the surge . Experts cite the pentup frustration over covid, more guns, fewer cops, and releasing nonviolent suspects without making them post bail. All of that, helping to fuel Americas Summer of violence. Lester. Tom costello tonight, thank you, tom. In just0 tom. In just0 6 Pool Floaties are like whooping cough. Amusement parks are like whooping cough. Even Ice Cream is like whooping cough, its not just for kids. Whooping cough is highly contagious for people of any age. And it can cause violent uncontrollable coughing fits. Sometimes followed by vomiting and exhaustion. Ask your Doctor Or Pharmacist about whooping Cough Vaccination because whooping Cough Isnt just for kids. Oh yeah, we gotta take off. Ask your Doctor Or Pharmacist about whooping Cough Vaccination you downloaded the Td Ameritrade mobile app . Yeah, actually im taking One Last Look at my dashboard before we board. And you have thinkorswim mobile so i can finish analyzing the risk on this position. You two are all set. Choose the app that fits your investing style. Introducing Aleve X. Its fast, powerful longlasting relief with a revolutionary, rollerball design. Because with the right pain reliever. Life opens up. Aleve it, and see whats possible. After decades of criticism from Native American groups, today clevelands Baseball Team changed its name. The latest Majorsports Team to do so. Heres gabe gutierrez. Reporter in a video narrated by Tom Hanks we are all cleveland guardians. Reporter clevelands Baseball Team announced it will now be known as the guardians starting next season. Indians will always be part of our history, just as cleveland has always been the most important part of our identity. Reporter the new name, a reference to large Art Deco statues on clevelands hope memorial bridge. The teams first Name Change in more than a century. Its sad. You know, i have known them as the indians forever. Im all for it. It was it was gonna happen. I think that, probably, most of the fans would have preferred to have kept indians. I know i would have. Reporter the Move Part of a largercultural shift across the country. The Nfls Washington Football team, also, announced last year it was changing its name. Although, it hasnt said to what. Were just a better place to not have those kinds of names. They need to be relegated to the dustbin of history. Tonight, the Oneida Nation says it hopes other Sports Teams follow suit, lester. Gabe gutierrez, thank you. These are tough times for people shopping for a home, as you may have already discovered. The cost is going to the roof, as there are a lot more buyers, than sellers. Our Stephanie Ruhle has Tonights Price you pay. Real Estate Agent says its been a while since shes seen a market this hot, for this long. The demands much higher than its ever been. Which is just creating these crazybidding wars. Reporter the median price for existing homes skyrocketed in june hitting an alltime high of more than 363,000. Up 23 , from last year. And the number of existing homes sold is up, too. After fourstraight months of declines. Those high prices, sending some firsttime Home Buyers to smaller markets. When you think about second, thirdtier cities, are they making a comeback seeing that Real Estate is so expensive all over the place . Yeah, this is the unique thing about todays market, compared to a few years ago. Used to be just coastal cities. It was expensive tech hubs like San Francisco and seattle were really the hot markets. We are seeing it everywhere, now. Reporter and homes are selling quickly, across the board. In june, nearly 90 scooped up within a month. We could see some relief towards the end of the year. But right now, just have patience in that homebuying process. Some of the signs that point to that relief . Lumber prices are falling. New homes are being built. And those existinghome sales are increasing inventory. Stephanie ruhle, nbc news. In surfside, florida, today, the Search And Recovery effort ended at the collapse the Condo Site with a salute to the first responders who worked around the clock for nearly a month. Kerry sanders is there. Reporter after 29 tireless days in surfside, florida, a salute to the urban searchandrescue teams now leaving. There is no leaving it behind. Reporter Stephanie Palmer says her heart is heavy from the loss of so many. Youre about rescues. In this case, it turned into mostly recovery. What has that been like, for you . It was difficult, because we knew that there would be a transition with this. And we never stopped working. Reporter one boy, rescued. 97 recovered. Estele, still missing. Our heart goes out to them and i wish we had better news. Reporter the site now turned over to police investigators, as these heroes head home. Kerry sanders, nbc news, surfside, florida. A remarkable group, and we thank them. Up next for us tonight. Up next for us tonight. Thethletes to watch a certain hpvrelated cancers . Youre not welcome here get out of my Face Hpv can cause certain cancers when your child grows up. Get in its way. Hpv can affect males and females. And theres no way to predict who will or wont clear the virus. The cdc recommends Hpv Vaccination at age 11 or 12 to help protect against certain cancers. Hey. Cancer not. My. Child. Dont wait. Talk to your Childs Doctor about Hpv Vaccination today. Nicorette knows, quitting smoking is freaking hard. Talyou get advice like ctor try hypnosis. Or. Quit cold turkey. Kidding me . instead, start small. With nicorette. Which can lead to something big. Start stopping with nicorette what makes new Salonpas Arthritis Gel so good for Arthritis Pain . Salonpas contains the most prescribed topical Pain Relief ingredient. Its clinically proven, reduces inflammation and comes in original Prescription Strength. Salonpas. Its good medicine. Liberty mutual Customizes Car Insurance so you only pay for what you need. How much money can liberty mutual save you . One two three four five 72,807 72,808. Dollars. Yep. Everything hurts. Only pay for what you need. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. People everywhere living with Type 2 Diabetes are waking up to whats possible with rybelsus®. You are my sunshine my only sunshine. Rybelsus® works differently than any other Diabetes Pill to lower Blood Sugar in all 3 of these ways. Increases insulin when you need it. Decreases sugar. And slows food. The majority of people taking rybelsus® lowered their Blood Sugar and reached an a1c of less than 7. People taking rybelsus® lost up to 8 pounds. Rybelsus® isnt for peopl with type 1 diabetes. Dont take rybelsus® if you or your family ever had medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple Endocrin Neoplasia Syndrome type 2 or if allergic to it. Stop rybelsus® and get medical help right away if you get a Lump Or Swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, or an allergic reaction. Serious Side Effects may include pancreatitis. Tell your provider about Vision Problems or changes taking rybelsus® with a Sulfonylurea Or Insulin increases low Blood Sugar risk. Side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may lead to dehydration, which may worsen kidney problems. Wake up to whats possibl with rybelsus®. Please dont take my sunshine away you may pay as little as 10 per prescription. Ask your Healthcare Provider about rybelsus® today. With 613 american athletes here In Tokyo, tonight we hear from nbc olympics Prime Time host Mike Tirico who breaks down who to keep an eye on, starting with, who else, Simone Biles. Everybody whos been around the sport says she is the greatest of all time. And she seems to have embraced it. And is almost buoyed by it and pushed by it. What is the rest of that ladys Gymnastics Team look like . Very strong. Athletes like Sunni Lee from the Twin Cities area. And jordan chiles from vancouver, washington. The usa womens Gymnastics Team. They have a Star But Theyve got depth as well. Another name we know. Katie ledecky in the pool. She could come out of her degree. But now, she is right back in the pool with great purpose and i think a great presence of w history. Swimming doesnt seem to define her. But, lester, she still loves and i think that shows in competition. In terms of males u. S. Swimming, there was michael phelps. Then, by the way, there was michael phelps. Everybody got overshadowed. Who is going to stand out . Caeleb dressel is one who in a few different disciplines will be strong. And he wants a little bit of that star of the u. S. Team role. There is a Name Michael andrews, which is one that we should keep an eye on. If it is a race of 100 meters, michael is as tough to beat as anyone in the world so that might be a name we get to know before we leave here. It appears that track is a place the u. S. Could really clean up. For the last three olympics, thats 13 years, one guys been the fastest man in the world. Usain bolt. Like michael phelps, we finally have an olympics without him and its a great opportunity for the united states. Noah lyles in the 200 meters. They are going to have opportunities to take some of that fastestmaninthe world title. If there is one athlete at these games, who really defines our time and our growth, as a society, to me, its allison felix. A mom who says i am going to be a Working Mom and still be at an olympic level. She has used her voice to speak out and its great to see her one more olympics. She brings so much grace. In everything she does. Yeah. Our friend, Mike Tirico. Now, as Simone Biles and her teammates prepare to compete this weekend, Hoda Kotb wanted to know what drives her to even greater heights . No words can describe the greatness, the perfection. Absolutely astonishing. You just sit here and you shake your head in amazement. Reporter the greatest of all time is back. And somehow, well, even greater. I am trying to beat myself. And im like can i do it again . Can i be this good . And thats what motivates me. Reporter take that motivation. Add Simone Biles talent, technique, and power, and you get boundaryshattering moments like this one. Biles, recently, becoming the first woman to ever land a daring and dangerous vault in competition. Unbelievable. You could hurt an ankle. You could hurt a leg. Right. So why are we doing that one, again . Because im capable of doing it. Thats the crazy part. Reporter now, 24. Simone hasnt lost a meet in eight years. Do you think about your age . Girl, all the time. You do . When . Every day. Im reminded of my age here. Reporter biles is a leader in the gym, of course. But shes, also, learned her voice carries weight far beyond that. Becoming a powerful advocate for the women abused by formerteam doctor, larry nassar. It took years for simone to admit, even to herself, that She Something made you say my friends come out, i know the type of pain. And even though i compartmentalized it, it started affecting how i lived. Reporter in what way . I was kind of terrified of men, of going to the doctors. And i started having really bad, like, Panic Attacks and anxiety. And nobody could really figure out why. Reporter it all came pouring out in a Phone Call to her mom, nellie. We didnt really talk. We just cried. I mean, it was a rough time. Reporter years later, simones anger with Usa Gymnastics is, still, raw. They knew, and they didnt do anything to stop it. So many young girls and women, it could have been avoided. The girl who used to flip around her Living Room says she still loves gymnastics. But competing for so long has taken a physical and mental toll. When the olympics were postponed, simone said she thought about walking away. One year on a Gymnasts Body is kind of like you fast forward five years. With all the wear and tear, i didnt know if i could do it, again. Youd also have to be working with Usa Gymnastics for another year. Yes, and so that was really, really hard. Lucky for us, Simone Biles has never been afraid to do things that are really, really hard. I knew i had more to give to the sport, for myself. And i felt like i had a purpose and its to be a voice for the younger generation. So i feel like gymnastics wasnt the only thing i was supposed to come back for. Hoda kotb reporting, and Tonight Usa gymnastics says it has put safeguards in place to better protect athletes and has cooperated with at least six investigations. Up next for us, tonit. Up next for us, tonit. Gh man ive made progress with my Mental Health. So when i started having unintentional Body Movements called tardive dyskinesia. I ignored them. But when the movements in my hands and feet started throwing me off at work. I finally had to say, its not ok. it was time to talk to my doctor about austedo. She said that austedo helps reduce Td Movements in adults. While i continue with most of my Mental Health medications. Vo Austedo can cause depression, suicidal thoughts, or actions in patients with huntingtons disease. Pay close attention to and call your doctor if you become depressed, have sudden changes in mood, behaviors, feelings, or have suicidal thoughts. Common Side Effects include inflammation of the nose and throat, insomnia and sleepiness. Dont take austedo if you have liver problems, are taking reserpine, tetrabenazine, or valbenazine. Austedo may cause irregular or fast heartbeat, restlessness, movements mimicking parkinsons disease, fever, stiff muscles, problems thinking, and sweating. Man Talk to your doctor about austedo. Its time to treat td. Td is not ok. Visit askforaustedo. Com introducing Aleve X. Td is not ok. Its fast, powerful longlasting relief with a revolutionary, rollerball design. Because with the right pain reliever. Life opens up. Aleve it, and see whats possible. Alright, guys, no Insurance Talk on beach day. Im down. Yes, please. [ chuckles ] dont get me wrong, i love my rv, but insuring it is such a hassle. Same with my boat. The insurance bills are through the roof. [ sighs ] be cool. I wish i could group my insurance stuff. [ coughs ] bundle. The house, the car, the rv. Like a cluster. An insurance cluster. Woosah. [ chuckles ] i doubt that exists. Its a bundle its a bundle, and it saves you money hi. Im flo from progressive, and i couldnt help but overhear. Super fun beach day, everybody. becky i started smoking when i was 16. Now i have endstage copd. My tip is, if you keep smoking, your freedom may only go as far as your oxygen tube. announcer you can quit. Call 1800quit now for help getting free medication. With voltaren Arthritis Pain gel my husbands got his moves back. Call 1800quit now for an alternative to pain Pills Voltaren is the first full Prescription Strength gel for powerful Arthritis Pain relief. Voltaren the joy of movement im still wowed by whats next. Even with higher Stroke Risk due to afib not caused by a Heart Valve problem. So if theres a better treatment than warfarin,. I want that. Eliquis. Eliquis reduces Stroke Risk better than warfarin. And has less major bleeding than warfarin. Eliquis has both. Dont Stop Taking Eliquis without talking to your doctor as this may increase your risk of stroke. Eliquis can cause serious and in rare cases fatal bleeding. Dont take eliquis if you have an artificial Heart Valve or abnormal bleeding. While taking, you may bruise more easily. Or take longer for bleeding to stop. Get help right away for unexpected bleeding, or unusual bruising. It may increase your Bleeding Risk if you take certain medicines. Tell your doctor about all planned medical or dental procedures. The number one cardiologistprescribed blood thinner. Ask your doctor about eliquis. They have made it to the very top. Olympic athletes and astronauts. Stephanie gosk spoke with some aboard the international Space Station about what they share. The Space Station brings countries together. The olympics brings countries together. Do you all see a connection between what youre doing in space, and whats going to be happening In Tokyo . You have lots of country that are united here in in with a common goal, which is peaceful, which is trying to bring the countries together. Thats what athletes do, as well. That they are trying to represent their countries. So i think we have that in common. Another thing they have in common with olympians, a strict workout regimen. I tell family members, hey, we are working out for a couple hours. They think, wow, you are going to be super duper fit. Mainly, we are mimicking the activities that were not normally doing that people do every day on earth. Is there one person among you that is kind of the motivator to get moving . I would say mark. I make sure bang on the doors, make em get out of bed. Reporter but they plan on taking some time to kick back and watch the athletes. Certainly, asked Mission Control to have that piped up. What do you hope the games will bring to the world . And and whats your whats your message . I think, people coming together to participate in event like this is something that brings hope and enthusiasm. Think this event will bring hope, not just to the Space Station or japan, tokyo, to the world. Reporter stephanie gosk, nbc news. Quite a perspective. Thats nightly news for this friday. Be sure to watch the Opening Ceremony, tonight, at 7 30 eastern here on nbc. I will see you back here, tomorrow night. Thank you for watching, everyone. Im lester holt. Please, take care of yourself and each other. Order for janine this should be easy. Oh boy. Well, we got this. Janine maybe shes the one in the green cap . Janine theyre all in green caps janine okay. Uh. Janine janine sooo. Whatcha thinkin . Janiiiiiiiine oohhhhhh. Thank you. See, told you we had this. Bye, notjanines. Tonight on the olympic zone, shining gold, silver and bronze, how tokyo is using Trash And Technology to make its mark on the olympic medals. And the special meaning behind the blooms in the athlete victory bouquet. Plus, surfs up the first time at the olympics. Were with Carissa Moore sharing the olympic spirit. Im glad it had a part in my journey. And the High School Senior in her first olympics. A Hometown Hero in a place known more for snow than