Jill Biden earns a FLOTUS bonus by cheering on Team USA at the unique Tokyo Olympics.

Jill Biden earns a FLOTUS bonus by cheering on Team USA at the unique Tokyo Olympics.

Jill Biden, the first lady, jumped into what has to be one of the most pleasant perks of the position of FLOTUS: representing America at a foreign opening ceremony during the strangest Olympic Games ever.

Biden landed in Tokyo from Alaska on Thursday for the Summer Olympics, her first solo foreign trip as the first lady, and began a hectic two-day itinerary with dinner at Akasaka Palace, commonly known as the State Guest House, with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and his wife, Mariko Suga.

She had earlier joined the Japanese first lady for an engagement at Akasaka Palace and had a meeting with Emperor Naruhito of Japan at the Imperial Palace on Friday. She also took part in a virtual meet-up with Team USA.

"Your entire nation is rooting for you, and we are grateful for what you've given us: the opportunity to come together in common awe and appreciation for your accomplishments, as well as the shared joy of rooting for our country on the edge of our seats," she told the athletes in a pep talk later published as an open letter on NBC, which is broadcasting the games.

Her day culminated with the most public element of her Olympic adventure: her appearance as the leader of the United States delegation at the opening ceremony at Olympic Stadium. Biden, who was wearing a mask, sat in the stands and observed a minute of silence at the opening of the ceremony.

Around 950 people, primarily dignitaries like Biden and the media gathered at Olympic Stadium for the low-key celebrations, where more than 200 athletes were slated to march.

On Saturday, Biden will dedicate a room at the US Chief of Mission's house in Tokyo to the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye and his late wife, Irene Hirano Inouye.

Biden will attend a softball game between the United States and Mexico with Foreign Service officers and their families at the United States Embassy, as well as cheer on American teams at different Olympic events.

As the most visible Biden administration member at the Olympics, she'll join most of her recent predecessors in cheering for Team USA in front of the world - a picture opportunity that can't be matched for demonstrating patriotism, sportsmanship, and overall good feelings for viewers back home.

This is an unusual Olympics, postponed from 2020 due to the coronavirus epidemic and yet subject to exceptional limitations, such as fewer than 1,000 journalists and officials as spectators in a stadium seating 65,000.

Controversies continue to mount as more competitors are forced to withdraw due to positive COVID-19 tests, including at least five from Team USA.

According to the White House, Biden is completely immunized. According to pool reporters traveling with Biden, she and everyone else in her company were tested between Anchorage and Tokyo.

The presence of the first lady in Tokyo represented a return to a recent practice.

With the exception of President Donald Trump's and first lady Melania Trump's just-concluded one-term, most administrations have tried to identify with the Olympics, and have frequently sent the first lady to head the delegation.

Michelle Obama was a popular figure at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

When President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush attended the 2008 Beijing Olympics, they appeared to be having a great time.

Hillary Clinton attended the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, as well as the Summer Olympics in Atlanta in 1996, when she was joined by President Bill Clinton.

The Clintons also brought their daughter Chelsea to the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, as part of the US delegation.

And when the Summer Olympics were hosted in Los Angeles in 1984, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan made a point of attending.

The vacation wasn't all fun and games for Biden: She's an important component of President Joe Biden's team of senior surrogates, who have been crisscrossing the country attempting to encourage more Americans to receive "shots in arms" as soon as to guard against COVID-19.

Biden flew in Alaska before flying to Tokyo to meet with military and veteran families and to visit the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage.

She explained that she requested to stop in Alaska on her route to Tokyo for a purpose related to the Bidens' three decades in the United States Senate and the relationships they established there.

"This state is significant to Joe and me - we've established strong ties here over the years," she explained, adding that she and her husband were close to the late Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, who welcomed them on a tour to view Alaska's stunning panoramas.

"I've seen the heart of this state in so many ways," she added, "so it's incredibly great to be here today as your first lady."

She shared the story of a woman she just met who fought back tears as she informed her that COVID-19 had killed four of her family members.

"Four. So when the vaccination was out, she went to work," Biden explained. "She stated that she personally ensured that 140 individuals were immunized. "That is our strategy going forward: reaching out to individuals who are still uncertain and encouraging them to defend themselves and others."

She will leave Tokyo on Saturday and go to Honolulu, where she will attend a vaccination clinic at a local high school before returning to Washington on Sunday.