The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay will begin in Fukushima Prefecture on March 25, 2021 with several Covid-19 countermeasures in place, officials announced on Thursday.
The Olympics were originally scheduled for last summer, but have been postponed this year due to the pandemic. In recent months, the Games have been a point of controversy, with rumors of cancellations as Japan handles a vicious wave of cases – but officials insist the event will continue.
The torch will first pass through the regions affected by the devastating 2011 Tohoku earthquake and the tsunami that marks the 10th anniversary of the disaster, before traveling “all over Japan,” officials said.
Covid-19 Countermeasures include avoiding “the 3 C’s: closed spaces, crowded places, close contact settings”. Those who wish to watch the roadside relay must wear masks, stay home if they feel unwell and avoid traveling outside the city hall where they live.
Viewers are also instructed to “support with applause or using distributed products instead of shouting or cheering”. The broadcast will also be broadcast live online.
Torchbearers are expected to complete a daily health checklist two weeks before the relay and refrain from activities that may involve a risk of infection, such as eating out or going to crowded places, officials said.
“The Olympic Torch Relay will be an event for everyone and, amid the global threat from Covid-19, will give hope and courage to people across Japan,” Tokyo 2020 officials said in a statement on Thursday.
Cases of covid: The announcement comes as Japan registers 912 new infections and 63 deaths on Wednesday, according to the country’s health ministry. This raises the national total to 429,265 cases and 7,660 deaths.