Olympic protests are nearly as old as the Games themselves. So why are officials so hesitant to allow them?

For more than 100 years, the Olympics have been used as a platform for political and human rights protest -- both by athletes and by entire countries. But as the Tokyo Games begin, there is still debate over the right of athletes to protest.

The opening ceremony formally kicked off the Games Friday and sporting events are underway. There's nothing but excitement in the air, according to IOC Athletes' Commission Chair Kirsty Coventry. In her statement Tuesday, Coventry painted a rosy picture, saying "The Village is looking great, the athletes are super excited. We've been hearing some very positive experiences from athletes I must say." But there's also plenty of controversy. Most notably, Japanese citizens have shown rising animosity toward the Games as Covid-19 infections sweep the country, with some protesting against them even as the opening ceremony took place. Multiple athletes from different countries have already had to self-isolate after coming into contact with the virus -- even though most sports have yet to hold their first event.