The Olympic flame on Friday completed its difficult journey from Greece to Japan. “For the first time in 56 years, the Olympic torch is heading to Tokyo and I hope that the Olympic torch will illuminate the path of hope for many people,” organizing committee President Yoshiro Mori said at a scaled-down
MATSUSHIMA AIR BASE, Japan — The Olympic flame on Friday completed its difficult journey from Greece to Japan.
Mori of course was referring to Tokyo's famous 1964 Olympics. Tokyo was also to have been the venue for the 1940 Olympics, which were cancelled by World War II. The aircraft was welcomed on the tarmac by a small contingent of organizing committee officials. Two of Japan's most famous Olympians — three-time wresting gold medalist Saori Yoshida and three-time judo gold medalist Tadahiro Nomura — received the flame for the lighting ceremony.
The flame will stay in northern Japan for almost a week until the torch relay begins officially on March 26 from Fukushima prefecture. It will be put on public display in the three prefectures most affected by the disaster — Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima, Worldwide the death toll surpassed 10,000 and infections topped 240,000, including 86,000 people who have recovered. Japan has reported about 900 confirmed cases.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Olympic flame lands in Japan as doubts grow over Tokyo GamesThe flame, carried in a burning canister, touched down amid growing doubts if the Tokyo Games can open as scheduled on July 24 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Read more »
Olympic flame lands in Japan as doubts grow over Tokyo GamesMATSUSHIMA AIR BASE, Japan (AP) — The Olympic flame arrived in Japan on Friday from Greece in a scaled-down ceremony at an air base in northern Japan. The flame, carried in a burning...
Read more »
Olympic flame handed over to Japan for 2020 Summer Olympics in TokyoOlympic flame handed over to Japan for 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, despite coronavirus outbreak.
Read more »
Olympic Flame Arrives in Japan With Summer Games Up in the AirThe Olympic flame arrived in Japan, beginning a four-month countdown to a Summer Games in Tokyo that is under serious threat from the coronavirus pandemic and rising public concern about health risks.
Read more »
Olympic Flame Arrives in Japan, but Games Prospects Are DimmingThe Olympic flame arrived in Japan today from Greece as doubts continue to grow that the Games can be held on schedule due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. Speaking at a welcoming ceremony on…
Read more »
Coronavirus concerns overshadow Olympic flame arrival in JapanOlympic cauldron ignited in Japan, with officials again pledging the Tokyo2020 Games to proceed despite mounting pressure to halt the world’s biggest sporting event due to the coronavirus pandemic
Read more »