Lonely flame arrives for the Covid Olympics
THE Olympic flame arrived in Tokyo yesterday – to a soggy reception at an empty stadium.
Normally a torch cheered on by huge crowds – as seen at London 2012 – it was reduced to a tiny lantern after the Games were hit by coronavirus.
The ceremony at the Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium took place in front of just a handful of officials and press as the rain bucketed down around them.
Five trumpeters played to deserted stands as the organisers tried to put a brave face on proceedings.
Yuriko Koike, the governor of Tokyo, told the few present: ‘Due to the coronavirus, the flame sometimes could not be carried on public roads. But by overcoming this difficult situation... it has been brought here as a demonstration of hope.’
It came a day after Games organisers and the International Olympic Committee banned all fans from venues in Tokyo and three neighbouring prefectures after the rapid spread of the Delta variant.
Tokyo reported 822 new infections yesterday – the 20th straight day of rising numbers in a country that has only seen 16 per cent of its 126m population fully vaccinated.
Japan faces huge financial losses to the hotel, hospitality and travel industries after the ban, with the 3.5m cancelled tickets alone set to cost the Games £600m.
Seiko Hashimoto, head of Tokyo 2020, said: ‘We had no choice but to arrive at the no-spectator decision. We postponed and postponed, one after another. I have done some soul-searching over that.’
Japan’s health minister Norihisa Tamura urged would-be visitors: ‘Please stay at home for this Olympics and share that excitement with families at home.’