Japan's World Cup Champions Kick-off Olympic Torch Relay

(ATR) The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch sets off at the J-Village National Training Center in Fukushima prefecture on Thursday promoting the theme ‘Hope Lights Our Way.’

Tokyo organizers believe the Grand Start of the 121-day relay, which will be closed to spectators, will be an inspiration to Japan and the world on multiple fronts.

It will serve as a positive symbol and providing hope to those who have been affected by the deadly pandemic and also to the citizens of Fukushima prefecture, 10 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami devastated the region.

Having the honor as the first torchbearer is Sasaki Norio, the head coach of Japan’s victorious 2011 World Cup soccer team. The female soccer players felt the disastrous effects of the earthquake while training, prior to leaving for Germany to compete. Fifteen members of the 2011 champion squad will follow Sasaki carrying the flame.

"J-Village is a symbol of reconstruction and the fact that it is starting point for us is a great honor," Sasaki said at a Tokyo 2020 news conference on Wednesday. "We hope we can deliver energy to the citizens and hopefully that it will be further motivation to recover the various areas even more.

"The East Japan reconstruction is connected to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics," he said.

In the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, Japan’s national soccer training facility was forced to cease operations, and had been used as a support base for the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant until 2019.

The relay kicks off one year and one day after the Tokyo 2020 Games were postponed due to the pandemic.

"There must be many people who are having a tough time with the pandemic, but no matter of what we hope that this power of sports can become a breakthrough," Sasaki said. "I hope that I can also be a part of that contribution."

After departing J-Village, the Olympic flame will travel through three of the affected disaster areas on Japan’s northeast coast - Fukushima, Miyagi, and Iwate – for three days each.

"Through the relay we wish to show the progress that we’ve realized in each of the prefectures after 10 years and to also express our gratitude to all the people around the world who have supported us after the disastrous earthquake," said Tokyo 2020 president Hashimoto Seiko.

"The concept ‘Hope Lights Our Way’ is to be realized to bring hope, energy and power to each of the destinations.

"In the current state with the COVID-19 pandemic where people are disconnected, the 10,000 runners will help connect the people with the torch," she said.

"To the runners, I’d like to thank you for your patience for one year – please connect the passion. It will be bonded with the power to overcome hardships.

"I’m confident that it encourages athletes around the world," said the seven-time Olympian.

Tokyo 2020 leaders unveiled additional countermeasures and procedures on March 16 to ensure a safe and incident-free Torch Relay.

"The Olympic Torch Relay will set safety as the top priority, not just for the runners but the citizens of each prefecture," Hashimoto said. "The health of the staff and their behavior will be closely watched and we will work in close cooperation with the municipalities to avoid density around the roadsides and venues for a completely safe operation."

Muto Toshiro, the head of the recently formed COVID-19 Torch Relay task force, elaborated upon some of the countermeasures and procedures in place for the flame’s four-month journey around Japan.

"We have been going through various simulations and we’ve also done rehearsals using the actual venues as we’ve prepared ourselves in actually operating the event," Muto said. "Yesterday involving density, COVID-19 measures and the earthquake management, we’ve conducted a simulation."

It has been noted that while spectators are encouraged to come out to see the Olympic flame pass through their neighborhoods, it is stressed that they should maintain physical distancing, avoid clusters and watch from near their residences. A lead vehicle will monitor the crowd situation and consult with authorities, in addition to announcing instructions to the public as necessary.

Muto also noted that the Olympic flame is the world’s first-ever carbon dioxide-free torch.

"As a symbolic effort the Torch Relay is using hydrogen fuel," Muto said. "The hydrogen used is made by solar-powered generation in a hydrogen manufacturing plant in Fukushima prefecture, which is a symbol of reconstruction."

The Torch Relay is scheduled to pass through all 47 of Japan’s prefectures and some 857 local municipalities over the course of 121-day event.

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli

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