Tokyo Olympics: Fans are not to attend the torch relay

Spectators will not be allowed to attend the start of the Tokyo Olympics torch relay, as the organisers said on Monday. Fans were requested to stay away from the “simplified” starting ceremony which came to a standstill a year ago because of the coronavirus. “The grand start ceremony and the first section of the Fukushima torch relay… will not be open to the public,” the organisers officially said. The fans can see the ceremony that will be broadcast live online.

The announcement was made official ahead of the organisers’ decision on whether the spectators from abroad will be allowed to attend the games or not. The decision regarding the overseas crowd will be taken before the torch relay begins on March 25. The torch relay will take place in Fukushima prefecture.

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“In order to allow all possible Covid-19 countermeasures to be taken, the number of participants travelling from Tokyo to the site is being substantially curtailed,” Tokyo 2020 said.

“In addition, the programme has been simplified and the number of performers at the ceremony has been reduced.”

Earlier, 3000 spectators were speculated to attend the ceremony.