AFP / Philip FONG
Organisers are under pressure to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Games because of the coronavirus pandemic
Tens of thousands of people flocked to a cauldron with
the Olympic flame in northeastern Japan over the weekend despite
concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
The flame arrived in
Japan to a scaled-down welcoming ceremony on Friday as doubts grew over
whether the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will go ahead on schedule as the deadly
virus causes chaos around the world.
The pandemic has already shredded the global sports calendar, with top sports leagues suspended and major tournaments postponed.
More
than 50,000 people on Saturday queued to watch the flame displayed at
Sendai station in Miyagi, chosen as part of the "Recovery Olympics" to
showcase the region's revival after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and
nuclear meltdown.
Some had to stay in a 500-metre (1,650-foot) queue for several hours, local media said.
Many of them wore masks as they took pictures with the cherry blossom-shaped cauldron.
AFP / Philip FONG
Tens of thousands queued at Sendai station to see the Olympic flame
"I queued for three hours but watching the Olympic flame
was greatly encouraging," a 70-year-old woman told public broadcaster
NHK.
But organisers, concerned about the bigger-than-expected
gathering, have warned the viewing event could be suspended if a crowd
becomes "extremely dense", local media reported.
The nationwide torch relay begins on March 26, starting
from the J-Village sports complex in Fukushima that was used as a base
for workers during the 2011 nuclear disaster.
But organisers have
been forced to scale back the relay, closing daily ceremonies to the
public and urging spectators to "avoid forming crowds" along the route.
Comments
Post a Comment