The Paralympic Games opening ceremony is one of the world’s most spectacular events in terms of pageantry, artistry, and grace. It showcases the host country’s spirit and passion while giving athletes worldwide a chance to share the global stage together and celebrate how hard everyone worked to get to that point.

As an athlete lucky enough to attend three opening ceremonies now, I am always amazed when we all come together in the Paralympic Stadium. I genuinely feel like I am part of something bigger than myself.

We all knew the Tokyo Games would be different and that having no fans in the stands and arenas would lead to a quieter experience. But the process of preparing for the ceremony was still thrilling as we got fitted for our outfits — dressed up fancier than most of us had been in a long time — and rode the buses to the stadium. And we still felt the energy from our fellow Team USA athletes and the rest of the world.

This opening ceremony was extra special for me, as I was honored to be chosen as one of our two flagbearers, alongside Melissa Stockwell, to lead our delegation into the stadium. It is hard to express what an honor it was. Team USA has so many incredible athletes, and for them to choose me as one of our representatives is something I’ll never forget. I felt a surge of emotions as we headed down the tunnel into the stadium, accompanied by over a hundred of our athletes chanting “USA! USA! USA!” at full volume. It was the kind of moment you read about in books or see in movies, not something you live yourself. I can’t thank my fellow athletes enough for giving me this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

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As we entered the stadium, a gigantic American flag was placed into my wheelchair’s specially designed flag holder (hint: it involved many zip ties!). Melissa walked beside me as we proudly led our delegation. It was certainly different than the London or Rio Games, where tens of thousands of cheering fans greeted us. It was almost eerily quiet, given the size of the space. I couldn’t help but feel a little sad, as I do not doubt that in a non-pandemic world, a roaring, packed crowd would have welcomed us.

While the absence of stands overflowing with spectators hurt some, it was still a special moment. I am thankful that we could attend the Games at all, given the challenging world we still live in.

For more from Chuck Aoki, you can check out his Instagram page @ChuckAoki and watch our NM Live episode where he talks to Teal Sherer about his preparations for the games. For more on how to see your favorite Paralympic sport, check out our watch guide.