Tajik Olympic team parade maskless at Olympic Games’ opening ceremony in Tokyo

At the games’ opening ceremony, Olympic teams of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan reportedly paraded mostly maskless in stark contrast with all the national teams who had preceded them wearing masks in accordance with COVID-19 protocols.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has promised to strictly punish them: and what else was left for them when 17 coronavirus cases were registered on the first day of competition, according to MK.ru.

And this reportedly could not but cause indignation as hundreds of Japanese stood around the perimeter of the Tokyo Olympic Stadium and protested against holding the Games under condition of the coronavirus pandemic.     

Meanwhile, Radio Liberty says just four members of Kyrgyzstan's 17-member team wore masks, with the seven other members of the delegation, including its two flag bearers, waving and smiling maskless as they walked in during the ceremony, which was broadcast live around the world.

Most of Tajikistan's team reportedly also marched into the stadium maskless a short time afterwards.

Pakistan's two flag bearers also chose not to cover their faces, unlike the vast majority of the other participants at the ceremony.

Tajik officials initially denied the existence of any coronavirus infections in the country when the pandemic first started last year.  Since admitting the virus had hit the country, officials have been accused of underreporting cases and covering up the extent of its spread.

Health officials in Kyrgyzstan have long complained of noncompliance with recommendations on mask use and social distancing by the country's citizens, according to Radio Liberty.