Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spoke during the small private opening ceremony of the stadium and applauded the efforts of those who built the stadium. Also speaking was Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, who lauded the number of trees incorporated into the design.

The construction of the stadium was redesigned after public outcry at the price tag of the original design. The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games will take place on July 24, 2020, at the stadium, which has a capacity of 68,000. In between the opening and closing ceremonies, the stadium will be the venue for athletics and soccer competitions.

The stadium will open to the public on December 21 and play host to the final of the Emperor's Cup, an all-Japan high-profile soccer competition, on Jan. 1, 2020.

The Summer Olympics in 2020 will start on July 24 and end on August 9.