Greece passes over Olympic flame for Tokyo Olympics 2020; Delivers hope amid Coronavirus outbreak

Athens (Greece), March 20: While COVID-19 has spread all across the world, Greece has moved on with the ceremony of handing over the Olympic flame set to travel to Tokyo for Olympics 2020 here at iconic Panathenaic stadium in windy but sunny conditions on Thursday.

 

The event which took place late in the morning was significantly scaled down due to the pandemic and did not include the planned cultural ceremonies from Greece or Japan. However there was no lack of emotion, symbolism, or significance. It featured gold medalists sending emotional messages of hope and unity. It saw the raising of Olympic flag with the national anthems of Greece and Japan taking place.

 

"Two Greek priestesses entered the arena and watched on as Greek gymnastics Olympic champion Eleftherios Petrounias brought the flame into the stadium." He ran a lap of the historic track before handing the flame to Olympic pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi to light the cauldron. Hellenic Olympic Committee President Spyros Capralos gave an emotional speech bringing the harmony and unity through this flame all around the world amid the coronavirus.

"We bid farewell to this great Olympics 2020 symbol, which brings together humanity, antiquity and modern times," Capralos said. "I wish to believe that the journey of the Olympic flame in your country will offer joy and hope to the people of the whole world, who are currently in pain and challenged," he added.

The Tokyo Olympics 2020 is set to begin on July 24 in Tokyo. Speaking about the outbreak, Japan’s Olympic minister Seiko Hashimoto assured on March 13, “The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the organizing committee are not considering cancellation or a postponement – absolutely not at all.” Many athletes are worrying about the situation occurring across the world as they are not able to the train themselves due to the lockdown. In addition to that, several Olympics qualifiers are being postponed which can be setback for the athletes.

 

However, a member of Japanese Olympic Committee's executive board, Kaori Yamaguchi, who is retired Judo athelete contradicting with the IOC said "is putting athletes at risk" and states the 2020 Tokyo Olympics should be postponed to a Japanese newspaper Nikkei Asian review. She added, "As far as I can tell from news reports coming out of the U.S. and Europe, I don't think the situation allows for athletes to continue training as usual. We should not hold if people across the world can't enjoy themselves."