Tokyo: The torch relay for the postponed Tokyo Olympics set off for its 121-day journey across Japan today.
The relay began in northeastern Fukushima prefecture and the first runner with the torch was Azusa Iwashimizu, a key player in the Japan team who won the Women’s Worlds Cup in 2011.
The relay will culminate with the Olympics opening ceremony on July 23. The ceremony was closed to the public due to the fear of spreading COVID-19 but was streamed live.
About 10,000 runners are expected to take part in the event with the torch relay touching Japan’s 47 prefectures. The relay is a a prelude to the difficulties the Olympics and the Paralympics will present with 15,400 athletes entering Japan, along with several other officials, judges, VIP’s, media and broadcasters.
Tokyo Olympics was delayed last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic and will commence from July 23rd to 8th August, 2021.