Tokyo Olympic flame lit in Greece without spectators
The flame for the Tokyo Olympics was lit on Thursday at the birthplace of the ancient games in a pared-down ceremony because of the coronavirus, The Associated Press reported.
After a seven-day relay through Greece, the flame will be delivered to Tokyo organizing officials next week at a ceremony in the rebuilt ancient stadium in Athens where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896.
As the source detailed fears of the coronavirus forced Greek officials to ban members of the public from attending the ceremony and severely curtail the number of invited officials and journalists. Normally, several thousand people from many countries gather on the earthen banks of Olympia’s ancient stadium to watch the ceremony.