The Tokyo 2020 Olympic relay will start in Fukushima prefecture on March 25, 2021, with several Covid-19 countermeasures, officials announced on Thursday.
The Olympics were originally scheduled for last summer, but have been postponed until this year due to the pandemic. In recent months, the Games have been a point of controversy, with rumors of cancellations, as Japan is dealing with a vicious wave of cases – but authorities have insisted the event will continue.
The torch will first pass through regions affected by the devastating 2011 earthquake and the Tohoku tsunami that marks the 10th anniversary of the disaster, before traveling “to every corner of Japan,” officials said.
Covid-19 countermeasures includes avoiding “3 Cs: enclosed spaces, crowded places, close contact settings”. Those who want to see the relay on the side of the road must wear masks, stay home if they feel sick and refrain from traveling outside the prefecture where they live.
Spectators are also told to “support with applause or using distributed goods, rather than shouting or cheering.” The relay will be broadcast live online.
Torchbearers will be required 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 informed.
“The Olympic torch relay will be an event for everyone and, amid the global threat of Covid-19, it will give hope and courage to people across Japan,” Tokyo 2020 officials said on Thursday.
Covid cases: The announcement comes as Japan registered 912 new infections and 63 deaths since Wednesday, according to the country’s health ministry. This brings the national total to 429,265 cases and 7,660 deaths.