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Tokyo 2020; Press release: Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay postponed

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay postponed

On 24 March, the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) announced the postponement of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

In the light of this postponement, Tokyo 2020 has decided to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay scheduled to start on 26 March. We will announce revised dates for the Torch Relay after the new schedule for the Tokyo 2020 Games has been fixed, and renew our preparations for a vigorous Grand Start event that will bring people together again.

We apologise for the inconvenience caused to our partner organisations, each prefectural taskforce and the many other stakeholders who have made such great efforts to prepare for the Relay, and we ask for your continued cooperation. We will consider measures that allow torchbearers who were selected to run in the now postponed event to be given priority in the selection process for the new Torch Relay.

 

Source: The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games

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Tokyo 2020; Torch Relay: Route Map & Schedule

Route Map

©The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 

Schedule

Prefecture Date
1 Fukushima 26-28 Mar. 2020
2 Tochigi 29-30 Mar. 2020
3 Gunma 31 Mar.-1 Apr. 2020
4 Nagano 2-3 Apr. 2020
5 Gifu 4-5 Apr. 2020
6 Aichi 6-7 Apr. 2020
7 Mie 8-9 Apr. 2020
8 Wakayama 10-11 Apr. 2020
9 Nara 12-13 Apr. 2020
10 Osaka 14-15 Apr. 2020
11 Tokushima 16-17 Apr. 2020
12 Kagawa 18-19 Apr. 2020
13 Kochi 20-21 Apr. 2020
14 Ehime 22-23 Apr. 2020
15 Oita 24-25 Apr. 2020
16 Miyazaki 26-27 Apr. 2020
17 Kagoshima 28-29 Apr. 2020
18 Okinawa 2-3 May 2020
19 Kumamoto 6-7 May 2020
20 Nagasaki 8-9 May 2020
21 Saga 10-11 May 2020
22 Fukuoka 12-13 May 2020
23 Yamaguchi 14-15 May 2020
24 Shimane 16-17 May 2020
25 Hiroshima 18-19 May 2020
26 Okayama 20-21 May 2020
27 Tottori 22-23 May 2020
28 Hyogo 24-25 May 2020
29 Kyoto 26-27 May 2020
30 Shiga 28-29 May 2020
31 Fukui 30-31 May 2020
32 Ishikawa 1-2 Jun. 2020
33 Toyama 3-4 Jun. 2020
34 Niigata 5-6 Jun. 2020
35 Yamagata 7-8 Jun. 2020
36 Akita 9-10 Jun. 2020
37 Aomori 11-12 Jun. 2020
38 Hokkaido 14-15 Jun. 2020
39 Iwate 17-19 Jun. 2020
40 Miyagi 20-22 Jun. 2020
41 Shizuoka 24-26 Jun. 2020
42 Yamanashi 27-28 Jun. 2020
43 Kanagawa 29 Jun.-1 Jul. 2020
44 Chiba 2-4 Jul. 2020
45 Ibaraki 5-6 Jul. 2020
46 Saitama 7-9 Jul. 2020
47 Tokyo 10-24 Jul. 2020

 

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Read more about the Tokyo 2020 Torch Relay on this page.

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Tokyo 2020; Torch Relay: Handover Ceremony

Programme

The Handover Ceremony of the Olympic Flame to the Organizing Committee “Tokyo 2020”, staged by the Hellenic Olympic Committee, will take place on Thursday, March 19th at 11:30 am at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens.

There will be a Relay in the Stadium with two Greek torchbearers, the Olympic medalists Lefteris Petrounias and Katerina Stefanidi. The cauldron inside the stadium will then be lit.
The President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and IOC Member Mr Spyros Capralos will deliver a short speech followed by a video message from the President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee Mr. Yoshiro Mori.

President Capralos will then receive the Olympic Flame from the High Priestess Xanthi Georgiou before handing it over to the representative of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, Ms Naoko Imoto, an Olympian in swimming at the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996, who is currently working for UNICEF in Greece as Chief of Education.
The Flame will thus begin its journey to the host city of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

The Handover Ceremony will be closed to the public and accredited guests. It will only be attended by representatives of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and selected representatives of the press.

The ceremony will be broadcast live by the Olympic Channel and ERT (National Greek Television).

 

Source: Hellenic Olympic Committee

 

Note: All times are local time

 

Livestream

A live stream will be available on the website of the Olympic Channel.

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Tokyo 2020; Torch Relay: Greek leg of the Olympic Torch Relay cancelled

Press release Hellenic Olympic Committee

The Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) regrets very much that it has to announce the cancellation of the up-coming legs of the Greek leg of the Olympic Torch Relay. This is even more regrettable after the huge success of the relay during its first two days with big crowds gathering along the route and at the ceremonies. Unfortunately, the latest developments concerning the spread of the COVID-19 virus has led the HOC, in association with the Greek Ministry of Health, to the conclusion that this was the best possible decision in order to contribute to the containment of the virus. The Olympic Flame will be handed over as planned to the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee on Thursday, March 19th at the Panathenaic Stadium, although there will be no public in attendance.

Today’s decision was supported by the International Olympic Committee.

 

IOC Statement

We fully understand the decision taken by the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) in association with the Greek Ministry of Health to cancel the Greek leg of the Olympic Torch Relay. The handover of the Olympic Flame will happen as scheduled on 19 March 2020. The International Olympic Committee confirms its full commitment to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

 

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Tokyo 2020; Torch Relay: Programme Lighting Ceremony

Programme

11:15 Closing time for admission of VIPs
Entry of the Presidential Guard
11:25 Arrival of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Prokopios Pavlopoulos
11:30 Opening of the Ceremony
Olympic Rings formed by pupils of Ancient Olympia

Οlympic Anthem – Hoisting of the Olympic Flag

National Anthem of Japan – Hoisting of the Japanese Flag

National Anthem of Greece – Hoisting of the Greek Flag

The anthems are performed by the Children’s and Youth Choir of Lavreotiki Municipality

Address by the Mayor of Ancient Olympia, Mr. Georgios Georgiopoulos

Address by the special representative of the President of the “TOKYO 2020” Organising Committee, Mr. Toshiaki Endo

Address by the President of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Thomas Bach

Address by the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and Member of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Spyros Capralos

Entry of the designated officials in the Temple of Hera

Ritual of the Lighting Ceremony at the Temple of Hera

Entry of the High Priestess and the Priestesses into the Ancient Stadium with the Olympic Flame

Dance performance by the Priestesses

Handing over of the Olympic Flame by the High Priestess to the first Torchbearer

Departure of the first Torchbearer for the Pierre de Coubertin Monument

Opening of the Olympic Torch Relay

End of the Ceremony

Source: Hellenic Olympic Committee

Note: All times are local time

 

Livestream

A live stream will be available on the website of the International Olympic Committee.

 

Details of the Greek leg of the Torch Relay

  • Lighting Ceremony: 12 March 2020 near the Temple of Hera at the sacred site of Ancient Olympia
  • Duration: 8 days in Greece
  • Length: 3,200 kilometers
  • Cities: 31
  • Archaeological sites: 15
  • Ceremonies: 28
  • Number of torchbearers: 600
  • Handover Ceremony: 19 March 2020 at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens
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Tokyo 2020; Design for Olympic Torch Relay Convoy vehicles unveiled

©The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games

 

Design Concept

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay Convoy vehicle markings are designed to embody the Torch Relay concept “Hope Lights Our Way.” The ochre-coloured part and the flame emblazoned along the sides of the car bodies depict the journey of the Torch Relay; a distinctive touch is added by the application of the fukibokashi colour gradation techniques used in traditional woodblock printing to the background landscape.

 

Source / Read more: Website Tokyo 2020.

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Tokyo 2020; Paralympic Torch Relay – Schedule

Part 1

The flame of passion will burn brightly in various locations across Japan
13th August 2020 ～ 17th August 2020

A Heritage Flame Celebration will be held in Stoke Mandeville in Great Britain – the spiritual birthplace of the Paralympic Movement – and flame-lighting festivals will take place at several locations across the host country, Japan, between 13 and 17 August. These flames will also visit schools, hospitals and facilities connected with the Paralympics in each prefecture of Japan.

Source: The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games

 

43 Prefectures

Prefectures Details
1 Hokkaido Flames will be lit and depart
2 Aomori Flames will be lit at 7 cities, combined in Aomori City and depart from Misawa City
3 Iwate Flames will be lit at 33 cities, combined and depart from Morioka City
4 Miyagi Flames will be lit at 9 cities, combined and depart from Sendai City
5 Akita Flames will be lit at 25 cities, combined and depart from Akita City
6 Yamagata Flames will be lit at 35 cities, combined and depart
7 Fukushima Flame will be lit and depart from Koriyama City
8 Ibaraki Flame will be lit and depart from Mito City
9 Tochigi Flames will be lit at 22 cities, then combined and depart
10 Gunma Flames will be lit at 6 cities, combined and depart from Isesaki City
11 Kanagawa Flames will be lit at 33 cities, combined and depart from Yokohama City
12 Niigata Flames will be lit at 30 cities, combined and depart from Niigata City
13 Toyama Flames will be lit at 15 cities, combined and depart from Toyama City
14 Ishikawa Flames will be lit at 7 cities, combined and depart from Kanazawa City
15 Fukui Flames will be lit at 17 cities, combined and depart from Fukui City
16 Yamanashi Flames will be lit at 5 cities, combined and depart from Kofu City
17 Nagano Flames will be lit at 13 cities, combined and depart from Nagano City
18 Gifu Flames will be lit at 25 cities, combined and depart from Gifu City
19 Aichi Flames will be lit at 49 cities, combined and depart from Nagoya City
20 Mie Flames will be lit at 29 cities, combined and depart from Tsu City
21 Shiga Flame will be lit and depart from Higashiomi City
22 Kyoto Flames will be lit at 16 cities, combined and depart from Kyoto City
23 Osaka Flames will be lit at several cities, then combined and depart
24 Hyogo Flames will be lit at 36 cities, combined and depart from Kobe City
25 Nara Flame will be lit and depart from Nara City
26 Wakayama Flame will be lit and depart from Tanabe City
27 Tottori Flames will be lit at 2 cities, combined and depart from Kurayoshi City
28 Shimane Flames will be lit at 11 cities, combined and depart from Matsue City
29 Okayama Flames will be lit at 27 cities, then combined and depart
30 Hiroshima Flames will be lit at 23 cities, combined and depart from Hiroshima City
31 Yamaguchi Flames will be lit at 19 cities, then combined and depart from Yamaguchi City
32 Tokushima Flames will be lit at 24 cities, combined and depart from Tokushima City
33 Kagawa Flames will be lit at 9 cities, combined and depart from Takamatsu City
34 Ehime Flames will be lit at 3 cities, combined and depart from Matsuyama City
35 Kochi Flames will be lit at several cities, then combined and depart
36 Fukuoka Flames will be lit at 33 cities, then combined and depart from Fukuoka City
37 Saga Flame will be lit and depart from Saga City
38 Nagasaki Flames will be lit at 5 cities, combined and depart from Nagasaki City
39 Kumamoto Flames will be lit at 24 cities, combined and depart from Kumamoto City
40 Oita Flames will be lit at 18 cities, combined and depart from Beppu City
41 Miyazaki Flame will be lit and depart from Miyazaki City
42 Kagoshima Flame will be lit and depart from Kagoshima City
43 Okinawa Flames will be lit at 16 cities, combined and depart from Naha City

 

Part 2

The brilliant light tours the co-host prefectures of the Paralympic Games
18th August 2020 ~ 21st August 2020

In addition to the flame-lighting festival and flame visits (optional), torch relays will be held in these three prefectures, each of which will host Paralympic events. Teams of three torchbearers will transport the flame, aiming to boost public interest and support ahead of the Paralympic Games.

Source: The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games

 

Dates

  • 18 August 2020: Shizuoka Prefecture
  • 19 August 2020: Chiba Prefecture
  • 20 August 2020: Saitama Prefecture
  • 21 August 2020: Tokyo Prefecture

 

Part 3

All the passion supporting the Paralympics comes together as one. The Paralympic Flame is Born!
22nd August 2020 ~ 25th August 2020

The flames from each flame lighting festival and the torch relays from all over Japan will be brought together in Tokyo on the 21st of August where the official Paralympic Flame will be lit. The final four days of the Paralympic Torch Relay will then commence in Tokyo.

Source: The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games

 

Dates

  • 22 August 2020: Chiyoda City →Taito City→Sumida City→Koto City→Edogawa City
  • 23 August 2020: Kunitachi City→Hino City→Tachikawa City→Higashiyamato City→Kokubunji City
  • 24 August 2020: Nishitokyo City→Mitaka City→Fuchu City→Chofu City→Setagaya City
  • 25 August 2020: Chuo City→Minato City→Shibuya City

 

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Tokyo 2020; Paralympic Torch Manufacturing Process Video

In line with the concept ‘Share Your Light’, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Torch will be created in Tokyo in August 2020 by the coming together of the collective passion of everyone who is supporting the Paralympics.

The torch for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Torch Relay will symbolise the coming together of the sentiments of everyone involved with and supporting the Paralympic Games.

The shape of Japan – a cherry blossom motif
The torch for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Torch Relay has been created in a traditional form using the aluminium extrusion manufacturing technology used in the production of the shinkansen bullet train.

Completely seamless – produced from a single sheet of metal.
A form that symbolises the Tokyo 2020 Torch Relay created by Japanese tradition and advanced technological capabilities.

 

Video: The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games on YouTube