Coronavirus has once and for all nixed spectator attendance at the 東京五輪 (Tōkyō Gorin, Tokyo Olympics), including the 開会式 (kaikaishiki, opening ceremony), save for a few 偉い人 (erai hito, bigwigs).
As much of a downer as the run-up to the オリンピックの開幕 (Orinpikku no kaimaku, start of the Olympics) has been, the simple concept of beginning can open up a treasure trove of useful Japanese.
Interestingly, neither of the primary two kanji that mean “beginning” are used in the word 開会式. The 開 (kai/hira/a) kanji does mean “opening,” though, and fits into a variety of useful words about beginning: 開会 (kaikai, opening), 開設 (kaisetsu, establishment/setting up), 開幕 (kaimaku, raising the curtain), 開始 (kaishi, start), 開催 (kaisai, holding or hosting) and 開かれる (hirakareru, to be open), are all used for the beginnings of different occasions.