‘Flame of Recovery’ festivities curtailed
TOKYO: Tokyo 2020’s Flame of Recovery tour, taking the Olympic flame to parts of Japan’s most affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, has been scaled back as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus, organisers said yesterday.
The six-day tour was set to begin on Friday, and takes place before the official torch relay begins on March 26.
It will visit locations in Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima prefectures, the areas hardest hit by the disaster.
The flame was lit in Olympia, Greece last week.
The flame handover in Athens on Thursday will be done in an empty stadium.
Relay organisers said that “the main displays of the Olympic flame will be staged largely as planned” but that certain elements, including the welcoming event with children on Friday and various other ceremonies have been cancelled.
Organisers have been keen to label Tokyo 2020 as the ‘Reconstruction Olympics’ as a symbol of Japan’s recovery from the disaster.
However, a cloud hands over plans for the Games, due to begin on July 24, as the coronavirus outbreak spreads across the world.
Several qualifying events, including those for football, climbing, boxing, fencing and judo have been cancelled or postponed, leaving athletes uncertain about how and when they will be able to qualify for the Olympics.
Tokyo’s test event for volleyball, due to take place in the newly-built Ariake Arena starting on April 21, has been cancelled due to concerns over the coronavirus.
Various other test events, dress rehearsals ahead of the actual contests in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, have also been cancelled, including rugby sevens and boccia.
Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will hold talks with heads of international sports organisations on Tuesday in response to the coronavirus outbreak, said a source close to an international federation briefed on the issue.
The IOC will also hold an unscheduled executive board meeting via teleconferencing on Tuesday to internally discuss the latest developments, another source said.
A source within the Olympic movement said no decision was expected today by the executive board.