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THE OLYMPIC TORCH relay will be barred from public roads across Japan’s Osaka region after a spike in virus cases there prompted officials to declare a medical emergency.
A decision to keep the flame away from public view had already been taken for Osaka city, but today’s announcement extends the measure to the entire jurisdiction.
“Today, we decided to ask residents across the entire Osaka region to refrain from making non-essential and non-urgent outings, so we will cancel the torch relay on public roads in the prefecture,” regional governor Hirofumi Yoshimura told reporters.
Tokyo 2020 organisers said they would instead “arrange for the Osaka segment of the relay to be run in the Expo ’70 Commemorative Park”.
They said they would “implement all necessary measures to ensure a safe environment for all torchbearers who wish to run there, with no spectators being admitted.”
The Olympic flame began its nationwide relay on March 25 in Fukushima and is due to pass through the Osaka region on April 13 and 14.
The relay launch ceremony was held without spectators because of virus concerns, and rules already require fans lining the route to wear masks and avoid cheering.
Yoshimura said it would be “inappropriate” to hold it in the Osaka region on public roads as large numbers of onlookers could gather.
“The torch relay tends to attract crowds because people want to see it, even if we take measures,” he said.
The decision came as the Osaka region declared a medical emergency, with rising infections putting local health facilities under increasing strain.
It reported a new record 878 new infections today and local residents are being asked to avoid non-essential outings.
Osaka city is already under special anti-virus measures, including asking businesses to close early.
Yoshimura had suggested last week that Osaka city’s relay leg might be cancelled, before a compromise was reached to keep the flame off public roads.
‘Realistic response’
With a little over 100 days until the virus-postponed Games are due to open on July 23, Olympic officials are battling the logical issues tied to a new surge in cases.
On Tuesday, Tokyo 2020 confirmed a water polo test event would be postponed because virus restrictions mean officials from abroad cannot enter the country.
Three qualifiers organised in Japan by the international swimming federation FINA are in doubt because of virus restrictions, with announcements on whether they will be moved due this week.
Tokyo 2020 organisers have previously said legs of the torch relay could be cancelled if overcrowding occurs, but its CEO Toshiro Muto insisted the changes to the Osaka leg should not be considered a cancellation.
“I want people to understand that the Olympic flame relay will be carried out although its form is different,” he told reporters.
“The Olympic flame relay has a significant meaning,” he added. “It is important to continue the Olympic flame relay by making a realistic response.”
Muto said some 200 bearers were scheduled to run in the prefecture and they would all be invited to take part in the park ceremony.
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“Olympic officials are battling the logical issues…” I think that should read ‘logistical issues’ – that would be more logical.
@Earth Traveller: Either way, it’s a total farce …. Or maybe the flame will burn all the Covid molecules in the air, en route … Is the virus immune to fire ….? Maybe all the spectators masks are useless …? Or maybe we’ve all been fed a bucketload of crap by the so-called ‘experts’ ….
Having the Olympics in near empty and soulless stadium’s will really make people wanna watch this summer, the event should have been cancelled and moved for another year and just push out future Olympic dates by 4 years….cos this can’t be making any kind of financial sense for the hosts or those participating in the event at this stage
@Tarraing Mo Liathróidí: I’ll still watch it. Watching other sport with no fans (rugby, football etc.) was a bit odd at first, but now I hardly notice. Also, they can’t keep kicking the can down the road. Many athletes would have been eyeing these games for years as their opportunity for a medal, and to just delay another year for the sake of having fans in the stadiums/arenas, isn’t right. If they have to cancel or delay again purely for COVID safety reasons, then fair enough.
@Tarraing Mo Liathróidí: Last time there was such a big scandal over ticket prices and availability though. Why wouldn’t people prefer to watch it online? I’d say the issue is that athletes have a certain time window when they’re at their peak, and having trained for the Olympics, it would be a blow for them to wait another four years. But in fairness, I’d prefer to know they were all fully vaccinated before they take part. It’s not worth the damage to their fitness, is it?
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