"Tens of Thousands of Japanese Gather to Watch Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay Despite COVID-19 Concerns"

A 500m-long line with masks on
Waiting for hours, photo
Organizing Committee: "Exhibition will be suspended if overcrowded"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Despite concerns over the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), tens of thousands of Japanese citizens gathered to see the Tokyo Olympic torch.

On the 21st alone, more than 50,000 people lined up in front of Sendai Station in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, to watch the Tokyo Olympic torch, AFP reported on the 22nd.

According to the report, most Japanese people wore masks and waited for hours in a line stretching 500 meters to take photos of the burning torch at the cauldron.

The Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee warned that if too many people gathered, the exhibition would be suspended, noting that the crowd was much larger than expected.

The torch was handed over to the Tokyo Organizing Committee on the 19th and arrived at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force base in Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on the 20th. However, the torch arrival event was significantly scaled down due to COVID-19.

The Organizing Committee has established a policy to continue the torch relay as planned, even without spectators, regardless of whether the Tokyo Olympics are held.

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