IOC president Thomas Bach: Olympic flame can be "a light at the end of the tunnel"
Friday 20 March 2020 10:31, UK
The Olympic flame has arrived in Japan at a scaled down ceremony due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The flame had travelled from Greece where the official lighting ceremony was restricted to only invited officials and journalists. Normally, several thousand people would have watched the ceremony at Olympia's ancient stadium.
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach says the Olympic flame can be "a light at the end of the tunnel" in the current crisis.
The IOC and Tokyo 2020 organisers have faced strong criticism over their insistence that as things stand this summer's Olympic and Paralympic Games will go ahead as planned, with the Olympics due to begin on July 24.
Bach said as the flame reached the host city: "While we do not know how long the tunnel we are all in at this moment will be, we would like the Olympic Flame to be a light at the end of this tunnel."
A four-month torch relay will now begin, although that too could be affected by the outbreak.
The torch relay in Greece was stopped during its second day and did not resume because of large crowds. Japanese officials have asked people to be restrained, warning the relay could be stopped or delayed if they are not.
"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," said organising committee President Yoshiro Mori.
"We will work closely with the International Olympic Committee, the Japanese government, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government," he said. "And based on the World Health Organisation's advice, we will ensure a safe and secure games."
Some athletes, like Great Britain's five-time Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft believes calling off this year's Tokyo Games "might be the best news" for athletes.
