By Daily sports on March 25, 2021

It was meant to be a curtain-raiser for thousands of sports fans, a celebration of Japan’s recovery from nuclear disaster 10 years ago that would showcase a country emerging strongly from years of economic gloom.

But the Grand Start of the Olympic Torch Relay in Fukushima was closed to the public on Thursday, as members of Japan's women’s football team prepared to kick off the flame’s 121-day domestic journey to Tokyo.

Amid the pandemic, anyone not among the 300 invited participants and officials could only watch a livestream of the event at Fukushima’s J-Village National Training Center.

In 2011, the site was used as an operational base for relief efforts following the massive earthquake and tsunami that triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on March 11 that year. Tokyo 2020 organisers chose Fukushima as the torch relay’s starting point to highlight the region’s recovery from the triple disaster. From there, 10,000 runners will carry the torch through Japan’s 47 prefectures in a show of national unity.

But in recent weeks, the positive narrative has stalled. Some Fukushima residents argue the region has far from recovered. Several celebrity torchbearers, who were expected to attract large crowds along the relay’s route, have pulled out of the event, citing concerns over Covid-19.

In February, the western Shimane prefecture even threatened to cancel torch relay events if coronavirus cases didn’t fall, according to local media reports, which said a decision would be made in April.

Last week, Olympic organizers said the postponed 2020 Tokyo Games, now scheduled for July 23 to August 8, would go ahead without any overseas spectators. The Paralympics, from August 24 to September 5, would also not be welcoming traveling fans, they said.

With costs and logistical challenges mounting amid the pandemic, public support for the blockbuster sporting event has fallen to an all-time low in Japan. Earlier this year, a poll by public broadcaster NHK showed 77% of those surveyed want the Tokyo Games either canceled or postponed further. (CNN)

•PHOTO: Olympic Flame on the move

Source Daily sports

Posted March 25, 2021

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