Tokyo holds rehearsal of torch relay
Preparations continue amid worries virus outbreak could throw cold water on Games
>> TOKYO: Tokyo Olympic organisers held a dummy run for the torch relay yesterday as fears over the coronavirus epidemic continue to cast a dark shadow over preparations for this summer’s Games.
A quartet of runners carried unlit torches for some 200 metres each as organisers meticulously went over the fine details before the Olympic flame arrives in Japan to wind its way around the country from March 26 to July 24, when the Games begin.
Watched by security and police, the torch-bearers, sporting the official white Olympic uniform with diagonal red stripe, passed a fake flame to one another followed by onlookers, local residents and city officials as traffic was diverted for the event.
The 71cm torch, which draws on the imagery of Japan’s iconic cherry blossoms, was carried in the western Tokyo city of Hamura, before further dress rehearsals in Kokubunji and Hachioji in the afternoon.
While some segments of the relay took about 10 minutes longer than scheduled, a representative said the organisers did not see any huge errors.
“It’s thrilling to think this will take place across Japan over 121 days,” said actress Satomi Ishihara, who ran the third leg of the relay rehearsal.
“I’m sure it will leave behind a lot of good memories.”
However, concerns over the fast-spreading coronavirus — which has killed more than 1,500 people and infected over 66,000 in China — have triggered calls for Tokyo organisers to reveal whether they have contingency plans, despite their assertions the Olympics will go ahead as planned.
Japan, which registered its first fatality from the disease on Thursday, is one of the worst-hit countries outside of mainland China with at least 30 cases in the country and more than 200 positive tests aboard a quarantined on a cruise ship floating off Yokohama since last week.
NO ADVICE FROM WHO
The World Health Organisation on Friday said it was not advising on whether or not to go ahead with the Tokyo Olympics this year amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.
But Michael Ryan, head of WHO’s health emergencies programme, said the UN agency could offer technical advice on how to handle possible risks around the event.
“We have not offered advice to the IOC for the Olympics one way or the other. And neither would we, it’s not the role of WHO to call off or not call off any event,” Ryan said at a regular press conference in Geneva.
“It’s the decision of hosting countries and the organising agencies to make that decision,” he said.
The head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) coordination commission earlier on Friday insisted there was no danger of Tokyo 2020 being cancelled or moved.
“The advice we have received from the World Health Organisation is that there is no case for a contingency plan to cancel or move the Games,” John Coates told reporters after a project review meeting.
Ryan explained that the UN health agency regularly offered technical advice to countries hosting all kinds of mass gatherings, such as sporting events or religious festivals.
“At this stage, there has been no specific discussion or no specific decision made regarding any of those mass events in the coming months.
“But we stand ready to offer both member states hosting events and organisations organising events to offer them the best mechanism and risk assessment approaches that we have,” he said
The Games will take place from July 24-Aug 9.