Olympia, Greece, March 12, 2020: The Olympic Flame for Tokyo 2020 was lit on Thursday, March 12 in Ancient Olympia, Greece. This marks the start of its journey to Japan where, in only 134 days, the Olympic Games will begin on July 24 and run until August 9.
As a symbol of peace and hope, the Olympic Flame will now travel on towards Tokyo conveying the Olympic values.
IOC President Thomas Bach said: “This ceremony demonstrates once more our commitment to the success of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Nineteen weeks before the Opening Ceremony, we are strengthened in this commitment by the many authorities and sports organisations around the world which are taking so many significant measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
“At the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 we will stand together, united in all our diversity. We will be united by our commitment to the Olympic values. We will be united by our emotions. This makes each and every one of us a member of this unique Olympic community. This Olympic community will show the entire world that our shared humanity is stronger than all the forces that want to divide us.”
Held near the Temple of Hera, the traditional ceremony celebrates the Olympic Games Greek heritage, reaffirming the connection between the modern Games and their historic origins.
Following the ceremony, the Olympic torch began its journey with Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallist Anna Korakaki from Greece. It was then passed to Japanese athlete Mizuki Noguchi, the winner of the women’s marathon race at the Olympic Games Athens 2004.
A week-long tour of Greece then follows before the Japan leg of the Olympic Torch Relay begins on March 26; 10,000 torchbearers will carry the flame through all 47 prefectures incorporating 859 local municipalities for 121 days.
Source: www.olympic.org
