Tokyo takes most of Olympic torch relay off roads
THE Tokyo metropolitan government said on Tuesday that the Olympic torch relay will no longer take place on public roads due to a resurgence of coronavirus infections.
The Tokyo relay leg, which starts on Friday, will instead be held without roadside spectators in almost all areas with the exception of small islands, the Kyodo news agency said.
The official Tokyo 2020 website said: “The Olympic
ame is currently in Saitama Prefecture, famed for its Edo period townscape and rich natural wonders.
Just north of Tokyo lies Saitama Prefecture. Today it is known to as a major transport hub in the Kanto region but it used to be a stop on the way to Nikko during the Edo period. The sights and atmosphere of the Edo period still remain today, and luckily the Olympic Torch Relay goes through some of these sights.
“Starting with a Celebration event in Kawaguchi City, the Olympic ame will make its way around the prefecture’s hidden sites and natural wonders before finishing in Saitama City. Saitama is also the 46th prefecture the Olympic ame has travelled through, meaning it is the last stop before Tokyo.”
Also on Tuesday, the Olympic organisers in Japan urged citizens not to watch the marathon and walking competitions at the Games from the roadside due to the infection rates in the country.
Recently, the number of coronavirus infections has been rising again, prompting officials to ask fans not to watch the competitions along the routes in Sapporo, on Japan’s northernmost main island Hokkaido.
Tokyo reported 593 new infections within 24 hours on Tuesday.