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. It was then transported to Athens on 19 March by official airliner Japan Airlines. The Japanese leg began in Fukushima, 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. The torch was scheduled to visit two remote island groups which are part of Tokyo. 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".
| 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 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.
Torches
The Olympic torch was designed by Tokujin Yoshioka and unveiled 19 March 2019; the design is inspired by cherry blossoms, with 5 petal-shaped columns around the tip of the torch, and a rose-gold "sakura gold" color finish. Their construction will incorporate aluminum recycled from unused shelters deployed in the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
Route in Greece
The traditional lighting ceremony was held on 12 March 2020 at Olympia, Greece, and the torch was handed over to the first torchbearer, Anna Korakaki. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the first lighting ceremony since 1984 to be held without spectators. The handover ceremony was held at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens on 19 March. The torch was to visit 31 cities and 15 landmarks across Greece, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was cancelled. On 13 March, a small ceremony was held in Sparta, the notable torchbearer was Scottish actor Gerard Butler, known for playing Leonidas in the movie 300 in commemorating with the 2,500th anniversary of the Battle of Thermopylae.
- 12 March 2020: Olympia, Amaliada, Pyrgos, Kyparissia, Kalamata
- 13 March 2020 (rest of the day cancelled): Sparta, Tripoli, Nafplio, Megara, Piraeus
- 14 March 2020 (cancelled): Kastellorizo, Agios Nikolaos, Rethymno, Chania
- 15 March 2020 (cancelled): Thermopylae, Volos, Thessaloniki, Chania
- 16 March 2020 (cancelled): Kavala, Alexandroupoli
- 17 March 2020 (cancelled): Amphipolis, Vergina, Meteora
- 18 March 2020 (cancelled): Marathon, Sounion, Athens
- 19 March 2020: Panathenaic Stadium
Special display
As the damage from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami mostly affected three prefectures, Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima, a special torch display known as "Flame of Recovery" will be held in these three prefectures. The flame first arrived at Matsushima Air Field before being displayed at the locations below.
- 20 March 2020: Ishinomaki Minamihama Tsunami Recovery Memorial Park, Ishinomaki
- 21 March 2020: Sendai Station, Sendai
- 22 March 2020: Sanriku Railway and the SL Ginga Steam Locomotive Express (between Miyako, Kamaishi and Hanamaki Stations)
- 23 March 2020: Kyassen Ofunato, Ōfunato
- 24 March 2020: Fukushima Station, Fukushima
- 25 March 2020: Aquamarine Fukushima, Iwaki
After the postponement of the Summer Olympics to 2021, the torch display remained in Fukushima for at least a month before subsequently moved to Tokyo. The Olympic Flame would be later placed on display at Japan Olympic Museum from 1 September 2020 until 30 November 2020. The restart of the relay took place on 25 March 2021 for the rescheduled Olympics.
Route in Japan
The original schedule of the torch relay in Japan was from 26 March to 24 July 2020. After the postponement of the Summer Olympics to 2021, all relays were delayed by 364 days (one day less than a full year to preserve the same days of the week). This change was not announced until 28 September 2020. The following table is taken from the original 2020 schedule:
| Prefecture | Route | Map |
|---|---|---|
| Fukushima | 25 March 2021 (day 1): Naraha to Minamisoma
26 March 2021 (day 2): Sōma to Aizuwakamatsu
27 March 2021 (day 3): Minamiaizu to Koriyama
| Naraha Minamisōma Sōma Aizuwakamatsu Minamiaizu Kōriyama |
| Tochigi | 28 March 2021 (day 4): Ashikaga to Nasukarasuyama
29 March 2021 (day 5): Nasu to Utsunomiya
| Ashikaga Nasukarasuyama Nasu Utsunomiya |
| Gunma | 30 March 2021 (day 6): Tatebayashi to Maebashi
31 March 2021 (day 7): Shibukawa to Takasaki
| Tatebayashi Maebashi Shibukawa Takasaki |
| Nagano | 1 April 2021 (day 8): Karuizawa to Nagano
2 April 2021 (day 9): Iida to Matsumoto
| Karuizawa Nagano Iida Matsumoto |
| Gifu | 3 April 2021 (day 10): Nakatsugawa to Takayama
4 April 2021 (day 11): Gero to Gifu
| Nakatsugawa Takayama Gero Gifu |
| Aichi | 5 April 2021 (day 12): Seto to Nagoya
6 April 2021 (day 13): Toyohashi to Toyota
| Seto Nagoya Toyohashi Toyota |
| Mie | 7 April 2021 (day 14): Yokkaichi to Ise
8 April 2021 (day 15): Iga to Kumano
| Yokkaichi Ise Iga Kumano |
| Wakayama | 9 April 2021 (day 16): Shingū to Wakayama
10 April 2021 (day 17): Wakayama to Hashimoto
| Shingū Wakayama Hashimoto |
| Nara | 11 April 2021 (day 18): Gojō to Kashihara
12 April 2021 (day 19): Kawai to Nara
| Gojō Kashihara Kawai Nara |
| Osaka | 13 April 2021 (day 20): Sakai to Suita
14 April 2021 (day 21): Izumiōtsu to Osaka
| Sakai Suita Izumisano Osaka |
| Tokushima | 15 April 2021 (day 22): Miyoshi to Naruto
16 April 2021 (day 23): Kaiyō to Tokushima
| Miyoshi Naruto Kaiyō Tokushima |
| Kagawa | 17 April 2021 (day 24): Utazu to Kan'onji
18 April 2021 (day 25): Sakaide to Takamatsu
| Utazu Kan'onji Sakaide Takamatsu |
| Kōchi | 19 April 2021 (day 26): Kōchi to Sukumo
20 April 2021 (day 27): Nankoku to Kōchi
| Kōchi Sukumo Nankoku |
| Ehime | 21 April 2021 (day 28): Shikokuchūō to Matsuyama
22 April 2021 (day 29): Tobe to Yawatahama
| Shikokuchūō Matsuyama Tobe Yawatahama |
| Ōita | 23 April 2021 (day 30): Beppu to Hita
24 April 2021 (day 31): Kusu to Ōita
| Beppu Hita Kusu Ōita |
| Miyazaki | 25 April 2021 (day 32): Takachiho to Miyazaki
26 April 2021 (day 33): Miyazaki to Ebino
| Takachiho Miyazaki Ebino |
| Kagoshima | 27 April 2021 (day 34): Shibushi to Kagoshima
28 April 2021 (day 35): Izumi to Ibusuki
| Shibushi Kagoshima Izumi Ibusuki |
| 29–30 April 2021: Transport via ferry from Kyushu to Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands | ||
| Okinawa | 1 May 2021 (day 36): Naha to Nago
2 May 2021 (day 37): Tomigusuku to Itoman
| Naha Nago Tomigusuku Itoman |
| 3–4 May 2021: Transport via ferry from Okinawa Island to Kyushu | ||
| Kumamoto | 5 May 2021 (day 38): Hitoyoshi to Yatsushiro
6 May 2021 (day 39): Mashiki to Kumamoto
| Hitoyoshi Yatsushiro Mashiki Kumamoto |
| Nagasaki | 7 May 2021 (day 40): Minamishimabara to Nagasaki
8 May 2021 (day 41): Nagayo to Sasebo
| Minamishimabara Nagasaki Nagayo Sasebo |
| Saga | 9 May 2021 (day 42): Tara to Karatsu
10 May 2021 (day 43): Kiyama to Saga
| Tara Karasu Kiyama Saga |
| Fukuoka | 11 May 2021 (day 44): Ōmuta to Fukuoka
12 May 2021 (day 45): Chikujō to Kitakyushu
| Ōmuta Fukuoka Chikujō Kitakyushu |
| Yamaguchi | 13 May 2021 (day 46): Iwakuni to Yamaguchi
14 May 2021 (day 47): Ube to Hagi
| Iwakuni Yamaguchi Ube Hagi |
| Shimane | 15 May 2021 (day 48): Tsuwano to Ōnan
16 May 2021 (day 49): Ōda to Matsue
| Tsuwano Ōnan Ōda Matsue |
| Hiroshima | 17 May 2021 (day 50): Miyoshi to Hiroshima
18 May 2021 (day 51): Hatsukaichi to Matsue
| Miyoshi Hiroshima Hatsukachi Fukuyama |
| Okayama | 19 May 2021 (day 52): Ibara to Okayama
20 May 2021 (day 53): Tamano to Tsuyama
| Ibara Okayama Tamano Tsuyama |
| Tottori | 21 May 2021 (day 54): Sakaiminato to Kurayoshi
22 May 2021 (day 55): Kotoura to Tottori
| Sakaiminato Kurayoshi Kotoura Tottori |
| Hyōgo | 23 May 2021 (day 56): Toyooka to Himeji
24 May 2021 (day 57): Kobe to Tamba-Sasayama
| Toyooka Himeji Kobe Tamba-Sasayama |
| Kyoto | 25 May 2021 (day 58): Kyōtango to Kameoka
26 May 2021 (day 59): Uji to Kyoto
| Kyōtango Kameoka Uji Kyoto |
| Shiga | 27 May 2021 (day 60): Takashima to Ōtsu
28 May 2021 (day 61): Kōka to Nagahama
| Takashima Ōtsu Kōka Nagahama |
| Fukui | 29 May 2021 (day 62): Takashima to Minamiechizen
30 May 2021 (day 63): Echizen to Fukui
| Takahama Minamiechizen Echizen Fukui |
| Ishikawa | 31 May 2021 (day 64): Kaga to Kanazawa
1 June 2021 (day 65): Wajima to Nanao
| Kaga Kanazawa Wajima Fukui |
| Toyama | 2 June 2021 (day 66): Oyabe to Takaoka
3 June 2021 (day 67): Asahi to Toyama
| Oyabe Takaoka Asahi Toyama |
| Niigata | 4 June 2021 (day 68): Itoigawa to Minamiuonuma
5 June 2021 (day 69): Nagaoka to Murakami
| Itoigawa Minamiuonuma Nagaoka Murakami |
| Yamagata | 6 June 2021 (day 70): Nishikawa to Yamagata
7 June 2021 (day 71): Tendō to Sakata
| Nishikawa Yamagata Tendō Sakata |
| Akita | 8 June 2021 (day 72): Yuzawa to Yamagata
9 June 2021 (day 73): Katagami to Kazuno
| Yuzawa Akita Katagami Kazuno |
| Aomori | 10 June 2021 (day 74): Hirosaki to Aomori
11 June 2021 (day 75): Mutsu to Hachinohe
| Hirosaki Aomori Mutsu Hachinohe |
| 12 June 2021: Transport via ferry from Honshu to Hokkaido | ||
| Hokkaido | 13 June 2021 (day 76): Hakodate to Shiraoi
14 June 2021 (day 77): Tomakomai to Sapporo
| Hakodate Shiraoi Tomakomai Sapporo |
| 15 June 2021: Transport via ferry from Hokkaido to Honshu | ||
| Iwate | 16 June 2021 (day 78): Shizukuishi to Kuji
17 June 2021 (day 79): Iwaizumi to Rikuzentakata
18 June 2021 (day 80): Ichinoseki to Morioka
| Shizukuishi Kuji Iwaizumi Rikuzentakata Ichinoseki Morioka |
| Miyagi | 19 June 2021 (day 81): Kesennuma to Onagawa
20 June 2021 (day 82): Higashimatsushima to Rifu
21 June 2021 (day 83): Yamamoto to Sendai
| Kesennuma Onagawa Higashimatsushima Rifu Yamamoto Sendai |
| 22 June 2021: Transport via land route from Tōhoku to southeastern part of Japan | ||
| Shizuoka | 23 June 2021 (day 84): Kosai to Shizuoka
24 June 2021 (day 85): Makinohara to Numazu
25 June 2021 (day 86): Itō to Fujinomiya
| Kosai Shizuoka Makinohara Numazu Itō Fujinomiya |
| Yamanashi | 26 June 2021 (day 87): Nanbu to Kōfu
27 June 2021 (day 88): Fuefuki to Fujiyoshida
| Nanbu Kōfu Fuefuki Fujiyoshida |
| Kanagawa | 28 June 2021 (day 89): Hakone to Fujisawa
29 June 2021 (day 90): Miura to Sagamihara
30 June 2021 (day 91): Kawasaki to Yokohama
| Hakone Fujisawa Miura Sagamihara Kawasaki Yokohama |
| Chiba | 1 July 2021 (day 92): Kisarazu to Sanmu
2 July 2021 (day 93): Chōshi to Chiba
3 July 2021 (day 94): Urayasu to Matsudo
| Kisarazu Sanmu Chōshi Chiba Urayasu Matsudo |
| Ibaraki | 4 July 2021 (day 95): Kashima to Mito
5 July 2021 (day 96): Koga to Tsukuba
| Kashima Mito Koga Tsukuba |
| Saitama | 6 July 2021 (day 97): Koga to Tokorozawa
7 July 2021 (day 98): Sōka to Kumagaya
8 July 2021 (day 99): Kawagoe to Saitama
| Kawaguchi Tokorozawa Sōka Kumagaya Kawagoe Saitama |
Tokyo metropolitan leg
- 9 July 2021 (day 100)
- 1. Setagaya
- 2. Komae
- 3. Inagi
- 4. Machida
- 10 July 2021 (day 101)
- 5. Tama
- 6. Hino
- 7. Akishima
- 8. Hachiōji
- 11 July 2021 (day 102)
- 9. Hinohara
- 10. Okutama
- 11. Hinode
- 12. Ōme
- 13. Mizuho
- 12 July 2021 (day 103)
- 14. Hamura
- 15. Akiruno
- 16. Fussa
- 17. Musashimurayama
- 18. Tachikawa
- 13 July 2021 (day 104)
- 19. Kunitachi
- 20. Kokubunji
- 21. Kodaira
- 22. Higashiyamato
- 23. Higashimurayama
- 14 July 2021 (day 105)
- 24. Kiyose
- 25. Higashikurume
- 26. Nishitōkyō
- 27. Koganei
- 28. Fuchū
- 15 July 2021 (day 106)
- 29. Chōfu
- 16 July 2021 (day 107, continued)
- 39. Mitaka
- 40. Musashino
- 17 July 2021 (day 108)
- 41. Suginami
- 42. Nakano
- 43. Nerima
- 18 July 2021 (day 109)
- 44. Toshima
- 45. Itabashi
- 46. Kita
- 47. Adachi
- 19 July 2021 (day 110)
- 48. Katsushika
- 49. Edogawa
- 50. Sumida
- 51. Arakawa
- 20 July 2021 (day 111)
- 52. Taitō
- 53. Bunkyō
- 54. Chiyoda
- 55. Chūō
- 21 July 2021 (day 112)
- 56. Kōtō
- 57. Ōta
- 58. Shinagawa
- 22 July 2021 (day 113)
- 59. Meguro
- 60. Shibuya
- 61. Minato
- 23 July 2021 (day 114)
- 62. Shinjuku
- 63. New National Stadium
- 15 July 2021 (day 106, continued)
- 30. Miyake
- 31. Kōzushima
- 32. Niijima (Nii-jima and Shikine-jima)
- 33. To-shima
- 34. Ōshima
- 16 July 2021 (day 107)
- 35. Mikurajima
- 36. Hachijō
- 37. Aogashima
- 38. Ogasawara (Chichijima and Hahajima)
Ceremony changes
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and several prefectures declared state of emergency amid COVID-19 surge, many of the public stages of the relay were truncated to be more ceremonial rather than functional such as alternative events. Participants of the relay would carry the torch for about 30 meters before passing the flame to another participant rather than carrying it for long stretches.
For instance, the relay in Osaka prefecture was changed into a private relay without passing spectators at Expo Commemoration Park in Suita. The relay in Matsuyama, Ehime was cancelled and changed onto a private relay, while the rest of Ehime Prefecture still had their relays on public roads as planned. Later relays in prefectures affected by COVID-19 as the virus cases increased but changed into a ceremonial lighting ceremony onto the designated final destination.
End of torch relay
In December 2018, organizers announced that, similar to what happened at the 2016 Summer Olympics, two cauldrons were built: one inside the Olympic Stadium and another on the waterfront, near the Dream Bridge. The function of the stadium cauldron was merely scenographic, to go according to what is established in the Olympic Charter. The Dream Bridge cauldron was placed where the flame will burn during the 16 days of the Games. It was lit right after the end of opening ceremony and will be extinguished a few moments before the closing ceremony starts, when the flame will return to the scenographic cauldron inside the stadium and will be burned for its last few moments. The decision to use a public cauldron came from the fact that it would not be possible to maintain the flame burning inside the stadium during the games.
At the 2020 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, the flame was transported to Japan National Stadium by judoka Tadahiro Nomura and wrestler Saori Yoshida, then the torch followed by the trio of baseball greats (Sadaharu Oh, Shigeo Nagashima and Hideki Matsui), until they passed to Hiroki Ohashi (大橋博樹 Ōhashi Hiroki) and Junko Kitagawa (北川順子 Kitagawa Junko), a doctor and a nurse helped to save lives during the pandemic as they carried the flame to Paralympian and wheelchair marathoner Wakako Tsuchida as passed to a group of students from Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures who were born before the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami until they handed the torch to tennis player Naomi Osaka, who would go on to light the Olympic cauldron; during the Olympics, Osaka would compete for Japan in the women's tennis competition before being eliminated in the third round.
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