Paragraph 2
The
of Japan's Olympic organizing committee, Seiko Hashimoto, opened the torch relay
. She said in her opening
: "The flame will embark on a 121-day journey and will carry the
of the Japanese people and wishes for peace." Japanese people are being encouraged to look at
broadcasts of the relay and refrain from travelling to watch it amid fears of a
in COVID 19 cases. Spectators must wear face masks, and are being urged to clap rather than cheer. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reiterated his
to stage a "safe and secure" Olympics in
of the pandemic. He said: "We will do our utmost on coronavirus
."
