<p>French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Tokyo on Friday to attend the opening ceremony of the pandemic-postponed Olympics, which is taking place under strict virus rules.</p>.<p>Paris will host the next edition of the summer Games in 2024, and Macron's meetings in Tokyo will include talks with International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach.</p>.<p>The French president is one of just a handful of foreign dignitaries in town for the opening ceremony, after organisers stripped back the usually lavish affair and limited attendance.</p>.<p>Only around 950 people will be in the stands, including US First Lady Jill Biden, who arrived in Tokyo on Thursday night.</p>.<p>Virus rules have also forced Macron to reduce his delegation to a minimum, and he is travelling with just a single minister.</p>.<p>His two-day trip will include a reception with Emperor Naruhito before the opening ceremony and talks on Saturday with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, two years after his first official visit to Japan.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/explained-history-of-the-olympics-protest-rule-1011558.html" target="_blank">Explained: History of the Olympics protest rule</a></strong></p>.<p>The two leaders are expected to discuss the situation in the Indo-Pacific region in the face of growing maritime and military pressure from China, as well as bilateral economic ties.</p>.<p>Macron is also planning to raise the issue of parental abduction in Japan, which does not offer joint custody for children in cases of divorce or separation.</p>.<p>The subject has been in the headlines since a French father in Tokyo began a hunger strike to win access to his children, who he says were abducted by their Japanese mother.</p>.<p>Vincent Fichot has not seen his two children in nearly three years and began a hunger strike outside the Olympic Stadium on July 10.</p>.<p>The French president will also get a taste of Olympic sport during his brief trip, with stops at the judo and women's 3x3 basketball competitions.</p>
<p>French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Tokyo on Friday to attend the opening ceremony of the pandemic-postponed Olympics, which is taking place under strict virus rules.</p>.<p>Paris will host the next edition of the summer Games in 2024, and Macron's meetings in Tokyo will include talks with International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach.</p>.<p>The French president is one of just a handful of foreign dignitaries in town for the opening ceremony, after organisers stripped back the usually lavish affair and limited attendance.</p>.<p>Only around 950 people will be in the stands, including US First Lady Jill Biden, who arrived in Tokyo on Thursday night.</p>.<p>Virus rules have also forced Macron to reduce his delegation to a minimum, and he is travelling with just a single minister.</p>.<p>His two-day trip will include a reception with Emperor Naruhito before the opening ceremony and talks on Saturday with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, two years after his first official visit to Japan.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/explained-history-of-the-olympics-protest-rule-1011558.html" target="_blank">Explained: History of the Olympics protest rule</a></strong></p>.<p>The two leaders are expected to discuss the situation in the Indo-Pacific region in the face of growing maritime and military pressure from China, as well as bilateral economic ties.</p>.<p>Macron is also planning to raise the issue of parental abduction in Japan, which does not offer joint custody for children in cases of divorce or separation.</p>.<p>The subject has been in the headlines since a French father in Tokyo began a hunger strike to win access to his children, who he says were abducted by their Japanese mother.</p>.<p>Vincent Fichot has not seen his two children in nearly three years and began a hunger strike outside the Olympic Stadium on July 10.</p>.<p>The French president will also get a taste of Olympic sport during his brief trip, with stops at the judo and women's 3x3 basketball competitions.</p>