 | |
| Host city | Tokyo, Japan |
|---|---|
| Countries visited | Greece, Japan |
| Distance | 20,000 kilometres (12,000 mi) |
| Theme | Hope Lights Our Way |
| Start date | 12 March 2020 (Greece) 25 March 2021 (Japan relay) |
| End date | 25 March 2020 (Japan) 23 July 2021 (Japan relay) |
The 2020 Summer Olympics torch relay was held from 12 March 2020 and ended on 23 July 2021. After being lit in Olympia, Greece, the torch was handed over to the Olympic shooting Gold medallist Anna Korakaki, who became the relay originating Olympian woman of the 2020 Summer Olympics torch relay.[1] It was then transported to Athens on 19 March by official airliner Japan Airlines. The Japanese leg began in Fukushima,[2] and ended in Tokyo's New National Stadium, the main venue of the 2020 Olympics. It makes a tour of Japanese cities, including all 47 prefecture capitals.[3] The torch was scheduled to visit two remote island groups which are part of Tokyo.[4] The end of the relay was the finale of the 2020 Summer Olympics opening ceremony on 23 July 2021. Toyota, NTT, ENEOS, Nippon Life, JAL, ANA and Japan Post Holdings are the presenting partners of the relay, with the slogan being "Hope Lights Our Way".[5][6]
The torch relay was changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The planned relay leg through Greece was cancelled, and both the lighting ceremony in Olympia and the handover ceremony in Athens had no public attendance. The relay was suspended on 25 March 2020, a day before the Japanese relay was due to start, and the torch was moved to Tokyo for exhibition until the relay resumed as planned on 25 March 2021.[7][8]
- ^ "Anna Korakaki chosen to be the first torchbearer of the Tokyo 2020 Torch relay - Olympic News". International Olympic Committee. 8 February 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
- ^ Osumi, Magdalena (12 July 2018). "Torch relay for 2020 Summer Games to start in Fukushima Prefecture". Retrieved 31 December 2018 – via Japan Times Online.
- ^ "2020 Tokyo Olympic torch relay to tour all 47 prefectures of Japan starting from Fukushima". Soranews24.com. 14 July 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
- ^ Palmer, Dan (19 December 2018). "Tokyo 2020 Torch Relay to visit remote island groups". inside the games. insidethegames.biz. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ^ Palmer, Dan (30 November 2018). "Toyota become presenting partner of Tokyo 2020 Torch Relay". inside the game.
- ^ Palmer, Dan (10 April 2018). "Tokyo 2020 unveil "Hope Lights Our Way" slogan for Torch Relay". inside the games.
- ^ "Olympic torch relay through Greece cancelled due to coronavirus". usatoday.com. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ "Olympic flame to be exhibited in Fukushima, Tokyo". NHK News. 28 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.[permanent dead link]