The relay began in northeastern Fukushima prefecture, the
area that was devastated by the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and the meltdown of
three nuclear reactors. About 18,000 died in the tragedy,
The first runner with the torch was Azusa Iwashimizu, a key
player in the Japan team that won the Women’s World Cup in 2011.
Wearing a white track suit, she carried the torch out of the
J-Village indoor soccer training center and was surrounded by 14 other members
of that 2011 World Cup squad and coach Norio Sasaki at the rear. They were also
decked out in white track suits.
The ceremony was closed to the public because of the fear of
spreading COVID-19 but was streamed live.
“The torch of Tokyo 2020 will become a bright light for hope
for Japanese citizens and citizens in the world and a light at the end of the
tunnel,” said Seiko Hashimoto, the president of the local organizing committee
and a former Olympian.
Homare Sawa, the biggest star on the 2011 team, missed the
ceremony. She is being treated for a condition affecting her inner ear and had
to withdraw from the event.
Fans were told to social-distance along the roadside as the
torch passes, and they were to refrain from loud cheering. Organizers have said
they will stop or reroute the relay if crowding becomes a problem during the
four-month parade.
Spectators cooperated in Naraha Town, just down the road
from where the torch started its trip. A few hundred people stood on the
roadside and were safely spread out.
“At first I didn’t think much of it," said 20-year-old
Takumu Kimura. “But when I actually saw it, it felt like: — yes, it’s the
Olympics.”
Setsuko Hashimoto, a 63-year-old local resident, was
emotional as the torch passed.
“Ten years ago there was a nuclear accident so (seeing the
torch) it felt like I could really look forward to something and live,” she
said. "When you become my age, this is the last Tokyo Olympics and it’s
here. It was very touching.”
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga chimed in from Tokyo with a
statement.
"The Olympic torch relay starting from today is a
valuable opportunity for the people to get a real sense of the Olympics and
Paralympics that are approaching,” Suga told reporters.
Organizers confirmed a bit of bad luck: the flame in the
torch was blown out during one leg of the relay. As has happened in other
Olympics, it was re-lit by a back-up lantern that also carries the flame that
was kindled in Greece more than a year ago.
Local organizers and the International Olympic Committee
hope the relay will turn public opinion in Japan in favor of the Olympics.
Sentiments expressed in polls in Japan so far are overwhelmingly negative with
about 80% suggesting another delay or cancellation.
The relay and the Olympics both stir fear that the events
could spread the virus. There is also opposition to the soaring cost of staging
the Olympics, now put officially at $15.4 billion. Several audits suggest it’s
twice that much and a University of Oxford study says these are the most
expensive Olympics on record.
The relay is a big test for the upcoming Olympics with fear
among the public that the event could spread the virus to rural and more
isolated parts of the country. Vaccinations have not been rolled out yet in
Japan to the general public. About 9,000 deaths in the country have been
attributed to COVID-19.
About 10,000 runners are expected to take part, with the
relay touching Japan's 47 prefectures.
After the postponement a year ago, there was early talk of
eliminating the relay to save money. However, that idea was quickly dropped
with the relay heavily sponsored by Coca-Cola and Toyota.
The relay is a prelude to the difficulties the Olympics and
Paralympics will present with 15,400 athletes entering Japan, along with
thousands of other officials, judges, VIPs, media, and broadcasters.
Athletes will be kept in a “bubble” like atmosphere in Tokyo
and will be limited to the Athletes Village on Tokyo Bay, the competition
venues and training areas. Most others will be outside the bubble and will be
kept at a distance from the athletes.
Organizers announced a few days ago that fans from abroad
will be banned from attending the Olympics and Paralympics. Most volunteers
from abroad have also been ruled out.
Organizers are to announce the venue capacities in April. Ticket revenue for the Olympics was to be $800 million but will be severely reduced by the lack of fans. Japanese government entities will have to make up the shortfall.
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