Tokyo Olympic torch relay starts in Japan amid pandemic curbs

The torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics started Thursday in Japan's northeastern prefecture of Fukushima, going first through towns most affected by nuclear meltdowns a decade ago, as organizers try to build momentum for the opening of this summer's games amid public health worries over the coronavirus.

The opening ceremony of the nationwide relay at the J-Village soccer training center was held without spectators. It was only attended by a limited number of people as a precaution against the coronavirus's spread, a year since the Olympics and Paralympics were pushed back for the same reason.

About 10,000 torchbearers will run through 859 municipalities in all of Japan's 47 prefectures, with parts of the four-month journey encompassing famous locations such as Mt. Fuji. Moreover, unprecedented measures will be taken to protect the health of participants and spectators.

The torch relay will be a crucial opportunity for the organizing committee to convince people in Japan that it can safely stage the games and involve over 15,000 athletes.

"The flame kept burning quietly but powerfully, even as the world faced difficult times over the past year," Seiko Hashimoto, president of the organizing committee, said at the ceremony.

"The flame will embark on a 121-day journey and will carry the hopes of the Japanese people and wishes for peace from people around the world."

The committee has said the relay might be suspended, or some routes of the program may be skipped if too many people gather on roadsides. Fans are encouraged to turn to live online broadcasts and refrain from traveling outside of their home prefectures to watch the spectacle.