Do You Need a Torch Relay? What is the value of the corona age 17:02 on August 4?

A question that people often ask about coverage of sports, is the Olympics really open? However, now that less than a year has passed since the opening, the number of times has decreased.
The spread of the new coronavirus continued, and the opposition to the Olympics felt tingling. In the meantime, an important event to boost momentum for the Olympics will start in the next eight months. It's a torch relay.
"Complete", "Cancel", "Repostpone", "Simplify".
I would like to ask you because various words fly around and you cannot see the future.
"Why is the torch relay necessary?"
Think through the words of the runners waiting for the day to connect the torch.
(Takeshi Hashimoto, Sports News Department)

Thoughts on the fluctuating torch

“I can't imagine myself running with a torch next year,”
says Ryo Matsumoto (21), a representative of Sepak Takraw Japan and a 4th year student of Nippon Sport Science University. Originally, I was supposed to run in Fukushima prefecture, which is my hometown, on the day when the torch relay on March 26 started, but the postponement was decided two days before the start.

Mr. Matsumoto applied for the Torchbearer because he wants to lead to the PR of Sepak Takraw that he works on.
The excitement of running on the first day of the torch relay, which is being watched by all over Japan, on behalf of an unfamiliar sport in Japan, not an Olympic event.
He was looking forward to that day, but said he changed his mind based on the fact that he could not see the future of fighting an unknown virus.

Mr. Ryo Matsumoto, representative of Sepak Takraw Japan
"Let's concentrate on the practice in front of the torch relay"

Now, even if the torch relay is gone, I'm thinking of using SNS to focus on PR in the competition. The towel that was given to the elected torchbearer had the date that it was supposed to run this time printed on it, but it was impressive that it had already been used for practice.

Mr. Ryo Matsumoto, Japan Representative of Sepak Takraw
"Since human life is important, it is inevitable to start sports after safety is ensured. I still want to run a torch relay, but at the moment the Olympics next year will be held a little. I think it's tough"

Athletes aiming for the Tokyo Olympics have the same feelings of complexity. Ippei Watanabe (23), who is aiming to win a gold medal in the breaststroke of Japanese swimming and swimming, was scheduled to run in Oita prefecture in April.
However, an emergency was announced, and the pool of the training base was closed, let alone the torch relay. It was said that he could not even swim for about two months.
Now that we have made a restart for the next Olympics, we still can't sort out our feelings for the torch relay.

Swimsuit Ippei Watanabe
"I don't know what will happen to next year's torch relay, and I can't say what I feel as a torchbearer now. What I can do as an athlete is to bring vitality to Oita Prefecture, Japan and the swimming world. I want to think seriously about what I can do for the past year."

The torch relay is the "most familiar Olympics"

What is the significance of the torch relay that begins four months before the opening of the Olympics, as voices threaten the hosting of the Olympics?
The answer to our question was Mr. Kosuke Motani, Senior Researcher, Japan Research Institute. Known as a regional promotion specialist, he also participated in the examination of the torch relay by the Games Organizing Committee.
Mr. Mogaya said, "Because the infection situation of next year cannot be predicted, we should not judge whether the Olympics should be held at this time," and in the first place the torch relay has the meaning of "the Olympics closest to the region". speak.

Mr. Kosuke Mogaya, Principal Researcher, The Japan Research Institute,
"The only thing that ordinary people living in small towns get involved in the Olympics is to see their acquaintances running a torch relay. It can be said that the torch relay is the event that left the most Olympic spirit. Normally, I can feel that Japan is connected to the world in areas that are not attracting attention even in the same prefecture, remote islands, and mountains.

To connect torchbearers

The torch relay is the "most familiar Olympics."
That is why some torchbearers have taken action, thinking about what they can do. Tadayuki Naya (47), who runs a Japanese confectionery store in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, released a video on the Internet on July 23, one year before the opening of the Olympic Games.

Mr. Naya is the administrator of the SNS site that exchanges information between the torchbearers, and currently more than 200 runners are registered.
A total of 73 people from Akita to Kagoshima participated asking runners from all over the place to play a role in bringing back vitality to the region.

I edited it as if one person relayed a short shot of about 10 seconds and put it together in 3 minutes 37 seconds.
Among the runners who participated, there were severe conditions such as elderly people who were refraining from going out due to the spread of infection, families of medical personnel, and the inn of the ryokan where the new coronavirus struck down the consecutive heavy rain disaster. Not a few people have been placed.
Mr. Naya himself also suffered a major drop in sales at the Japanese confectionery store due to the temporary closure of the department store and the airport.
In order to shake off the dark feelings, Mr. Naya remarked that it is important to show the Tohoku runners facing forward as a member of the Olympic leaders.

Tadayuki Naya
"When there are a lot of dark news, everyone's dreams, hopes, and fun are encouraging. I'd be happy if the videos helped me to convey the spirit and power of the torchbearer and to be positively active."

The power of the torch shown in 1964

We also talked to the runners, who are probably the most acquainted with the power of the torch relay in Japan. Isamu Miyagi (78) from Urasoe City, Okinawa Prefecture.
He was the first runner at the last Tokyo Olympics when the torch relay began in Okinawa in 1964.

At that time Okinawa was under the rule of the United States, except for national holidays, the Japanese flag was prohibited to be displayed, but when Mr. Miyagi ran off Naha Airport with a torch fired from Greece in hand, the roadside was filled with Hinomaru. I was exhausted.

Mr. Isamu Miyagi
“I think that all the residents of Okinawa were waving and welcoming. In Okinawa, where there was a horrific ground battle, a torch relay conveys the value of peace and hope, and courage to everyone. It was a guide to illuminating the future for the return to the mainland."

Miyagi-san was scheduled to run again in May in the local city of Urasoe as a torchbearer. Even though the dark shadow of the virus covers the world and the situation in Okinawa at the time is different, I believe that the power of the torch relay will not change.

Isamu Miyagi
"White smoke rises from the tip of the torch and a small orange fire pillar blows out. It is the moment when you can feel the Olympics without going to the stadium. It gives everyone strength and courage. The flame of the torch has such power."

He said, "I want you to hold the Olympics, so I will say this for the first time..."

Isamu Miyagi
"Even if the Olympics could not be held, it is better to change the shape of the torch relay that will be the courage and power of the region. I think it has meaning."

What is the significance of 200m x 10,000 people?

One runner runs for two minutes and only 200 meters in distance. However, there are 10,000 runners holding torches all over the country. Mr. Motani, who participated in the examination of the torch relay, emphasizes the significance of the torch traveling around the country.

Japan Research Institute chief researcher Motani does the intervention Hiroshi
"young and old, the torch relay run people of every position is like all of the regional activation culmination. The feeling that it is human instinct" I want to collection "is now But if we can make a torch relay with the thought of "throwing the frozen activities and thinking "I'll do more fun from now on"", it has a big meaning in both small and sober."

Those who have been divided by the virus gather under the torch and regain their former vitality and hope. I hope that such a scene will spread in various places next March when the torch relay begins.

Sports news department
reporter Tsuyoshi Hashimoto