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Olympic torch goes on display in Tokyo

Tokyo, Aug 31 (efe-epa).- The Olympic flame has gone on display at a museum in Tokyo five months after it arrived in the Asian host nation from Greece.

The Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee inaugurated the display at the Olympic museum before it opens for the public on Tuesday until 1 November.

This year’s Olympic Games had to be rescheduled because of the coronavirus pandemic and are now slated to get underway next summer.

The museum is located in front of the new National Stadium that was constructed to host the principal sporting events at the Games.

Yoshiro Mori, president of the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee, opened the display and told the press: “There was a lot of drama surrounding the delivery of the Olympic flame but we overcame various difficulties just as track athletes must clear hurdles and now it is on display here.

“The flame will be carried in turns by about 10,000 torchbearers next year, we will use it to ignite the cauldron at the opening ceremony and ensure the Tokyo 2020 Games are a great success.

“We will continue to work closely with all concerned parties to prepare for a safe and secure Games.”

President of the Japanese Olympic Committee Yamashia Yasuhiro added: “I understand that the athletes aiming to participate in next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games are training amidst concern about the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am confident that the display of the Olympic flame in Japan will be a heartening symbol for them.

“I look forward to many people being able to see the Olympic flame when it opens to the public tomorrow.”

Japanese Olympic Games minister Seiko Hashimoto said it was “a message of hope for Japan and for the whole world”.

The flame arrived in Japan on 20 March after the traditional lighting in the Greek city of Olympia.

It was temporarily put on display in Fukushima and was set to be transported to Tokyo in a traditional relay.

The relay was canceled after the organizing committee, the international committee and the Japanese government agreed to postpone the Games due to the pandemic.

The torch bearing the flame is engraved with the Tokyo Olympics logo and is due to light the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony on 23 July 2021.EFE-EPA

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