Tokyo Olympic torch relay pulled off streets in Hiroshima
PTI, May 11, 2021, 7:18 PM IST
Tokyo: The Tokyo Olympic torch relay is being pulled off the streets in Hiroshima prefecture as COVID-19 cases rise in Japan barely 10 weeks before the opening ceremony.
Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki said that a ceremony next week without the relay is likely to still take place. This is at least the sixth change to the relay — from rerouting to cancellation — in the last several weeks.
Organizers warned before the relay began that changes and delays were expected in the face of the pandemic.
“It is certain there will be no relay on public streets since we are all trying to reduce going out, and how to do the ceremony without the relay on the streets is still being discussed with the organizers,†Yuzaki said Monday.
The relay began on March 25 in northeastern Japan and is to end on July 23 at the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Tokyo and other areas are under a state of emergency until May 31.
Japan has attributed about 11,000 deaths to COVID-19, but new cases of the virus and its variants are now increasing in Tokyo and the second largest metropolitan area of Osaka.
The relay is heavily sponsored by Toyota and Coca-Cola and has proceeded despite some calls a year ago to cancel it to save money. It involves 10,000 runners crisscrossing Japan with organizers trying to keep crowds off the streets and urging them to maintain social distancing.
International Olympic President Thomas Bach was forced this week to call off a trip to Hiroshima to greet the torch, an embarrassing move with the IOC and local organizers saying the Olympics will be “safe and secure” for fans and athletes.
Yuzaki said the cases were rising at such a rapid pace that it could become an emergency situation unless people curbed their activities.
On Monday, Japan”s Kyodo news agency reported that Hyogo and Okayama prefectures will also take the torch relay off public streets.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Messi out of Argentina friendlies in the US due to muscle injury
I am tough guy to handle but KKR would be at better place by the time I leave: Gambhir
It’s hard to believe Pakistan’s Nadeem is struggling to get a new javelin: Neeraj Chopra
IPL 2024: Virat Kohli joins RCB training camp
‘Ee sala cup namdu’: Smriti Mandhana on RCB clinching WPL title
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Manipur govt in favour of UPSC exam centres outside state: Delhi HC told
Himachal: BJP delegation meets chief electoral officer, complains of model code of conduct violations
Suspected honor killing: Couple brutally murdered
PM Modi’s ‘400 paar’ claim ‘hollow’, INDIA bloc will get clear majority to form govt: Baghel
UP: Head constable held for killing government teacher, govt announces Rs 25 lakh ex gratia to kin