He’s baaaack! Pita Taufatofua (a.k.a. the Shirtless Tongan) returned to the Olympics as his country’s flag-bearer for Friday’s opening ceremonies. It marked his third ceremony, having first appeared at the 2016 Rio Games, and again at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
He's here! ? Pita Taufatofua#Tokyo2020 | #UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether | #Olympics pic.twitter.com/cxnjBs71EJ
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) July 23, 2021
The mood at the event was a pretty big departure from games past. Instead of having spectators inside the stadium cheering the athletes on, protesters assembled outside the arena, upset that Japan allowed the games to proceed at all amid a worsening pandemic.
But other than that pretty glaring difference, the ceremony itself was familiar. Countries were allowed two flag bearers (again, Covid), and the parade of nations proceeded for the television cameras.
And everyone was thrilled to see Taufatofua, who will compete in taekwondo:
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"The hot, shirtless Tongan flagbearer from Rio is BACK!"
Pita Taufatofua became an overnight sensation five years ago when he marched shirtless and in a traditional Tongan outfit at the opening ceremonies in 2016 and 2018. He is back for #Tokyo2020. https://t.co/lSzzr8Lsf4 pic.twitter.com/bT2HlMoKhO
— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 23, 2021
Thank you Pita Taufatofua
Thank you Tonga
Thank you #Olympics
Thank you #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/H9ZYyF9Bhm— Mr Adam R (@MrAdamR) July 23, 2021
He's back. Equally oiled. Pita Taufatofua from Tonga. ? #Olympics #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/HgKNI5XbA0
— Goran (@GoranVR) July 23, 2021
Pita Taufatofua's oiled up chest at every #olympics is the consistency we need and deserve #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/tS4jTFOKy9
— Jamie Blynn (@jamieblynn) July 23, 2021
I Am Hollering…Bathong This Island Guy Is HOT??????
Pita Taufatofua #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/JyBG2papCQ— GontseLeroleFan (@FanGontse) July 23, 2021
Give Pita Taufatofua a gold medal just for existing thank you. #Olympics pic.twitter.com/YrRe1beJfz
— Jordan Fennell (@jordaaaye) July 23, 2021
I do ? watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.
Pita Taufatofua of Tonga has appeared! ??? pic.twitter.com/PnT6fXzA6Q— I?CAVALIERS (@NJHWAY2) July 23, 2021
can’t stop thinking about Pita Taufatofua ? #Olympics #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/1Cw7R839Hv
— Gabe (@gabethefaun) July 23, 2021
Consider this a Pita Taufatofua of Team Tonga appreciation post… and yet another reason to watch the Opening Ceremony on @NBCOlympics #Olympics #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/B1xSBURrU8
— Kaitlin Urka (@kaitlinurka) July 23, 2021
There is no Olympics without Pita Taufatofua oiled up during the #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/VRl0Y5Ivus
— Stacy Lambe (@sllambe) July 23, 2021
There he is, the legend himself: #Tonga's Pita Taufatofua!#Tokyo2020 #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/bxyNJ9Cwij
— Shreyas Reddy (@shreyas_k_reddy) July 23, 2021
Liquid Silver
If you’re there, wear your masks, people.
dali
I believe the photos where he’s not wearing a mask do not come from the Tokyo Olympics. Have a look at the background and also his “skirt”. Different place, different time.
ted
That’s a god I’d worship (day & night and in between).
Max
I’ll be in my bunk fantasizing about all the slippery fun we’d have!
The real Bruce
Looking very proud once again! I hope I get the chance to see him compete in his event, Teak-won-do.
BoomerMyles
Thirst thirst thirst!
mz.sam
WOW…I love me some butter from Pita’s bread!
adrianjurado310
New car smell.
PerhapsYesNoMaybe
Island nation of a hundred thousand inhabitants who criminalize gay people. Hope it goes under water with global warming.
CityguyUSA
As typical the gay crowd doesn’t stand up for equality but feasts on the body.
Den
Interestingly, men who chose to dress and live as women were valued in traditional Tongan culture, and were chosen for service to the royal family.
The illegality of same sex activity and unions dates (of course) from the imperialist subjugation by the British Empire and has been upheld by the missionary activity of extreme Christians.
The law is no longer actively enforced, but Christianity has tainted Tongan traditional culture so that diversity of gender orientation, religious faith and behavior are not well tolerated.
It is the only island nation in Oceania that has not signed on to the UN statement regarding gender and gender preference equality of treatment.
Den
@CityguyUSA
“As typical the gay crowd doesn’t stand up for equality but feasts on the body.”
Perhaps you are not aware that one can, in fact, do both?
Perhaps you are not aware that one can actively dislike the actions of a government and of the most conservative parts of a population while still liking the people in general (many did that towards the US during the Trump and Bush administrations).
There is currently a movement of Tongans trying to both get the antiquated British law off the books and resurrect respect for traditional Tongan culture.
Karlis
The two flagbearers were to ensure that there was one woman and one man for the purposes of gender equality. It had nothing to do with Covid.
b2rocketfan
He has a Great body but all the oil makes him look plastic to me. Just too greasy looking, but I totally get most people thinking he looks great. I’m happy he gets to rep his home. ??
mailliw110
Gonna need to buy new sheets after his visit.