Six months after the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics and Para

Six months after the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics and Para, the torchbearers from all over the country will be on September 24 at 19:28.

It has been six months since the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics was decided.

The torchbearers from all over the world are looking forward to the day when they run with various thoughts in mind.

Tochigi Olympics (Iriko) "I want to run with a superb smile"

A woman named "Olympic child" who wrote "Olympic child" and is selected as a torchbearer in Tochigi prefecture, became energetic by watching sports while living under the influence of the new corona. I am looking forward to running for you.

Ms. Honda Olympics (55) from Shimotsuke City, Tochigi Prefecture, was born in October 1964 and is named after the torch relay that left the Tochigi Prefectural Office at the last Tokyo Olympics.

Ms. Olympic, who had a longing for the torch relay, which was the origin of the name, was brilliantly selected as a torchbearer and was scheduled to run in Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture on March 29, but was infected with the new coronavirus. Due to the expansion, it was decided to cancel the torch relay 5 days before the schedule.

Looking back on his feelings at the time, Ms. Olympics said, "I was shocked and disappointed just because I had a preview of the site a week ago and prepared to run here. Looking at the infection situation, I think the decision to postpone it was correct. "

Olympics, who was active as a rhythmic gymnastics player until high school and now works as a physical education teacher at a junior high school in the prefecture, said about the influence of the new corona, "The school was closed during the period of self-restraint, and there were two blank months. I mean, I felt like the time had stopped, but now I'm grateful for my daily life. "

And for the torch relay next summer, "Sports will inspire your heart. If you can remind yourself that you saw the torch 50 years later, and make your heart feel better. I'm thinking, so I'd like to run the torch relay next year with a big smile. "

Asahi City, Chiba Prefecture Junior high school students want to deliver "the current state of the disaster area"

Six months after the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics was decided, a junior high school torchbearer in Asahi City, Chiba Prefecture, who lost 16 people in the Great East Japan Earthquake, said, "I'm fine through the torch relay, even in the competition where the new coronavirus countermeasures are drawing attention. I want to convey the appearance of the disaster area that has recovered. "

In Asahi City, where 16 people were killed in the Great East Japan Earthquake nine years ago, eight junior high school students attending local Iioka Junior High School were selected as holy fire runners, and the new coronavirus countermeasures that continue to be infected will be the focus of attention. We want to deliver "the current state of the disaster area".

Kazuki Ito, a third-year student who is one of the runners and updates the board that displays the number of days remaining until the opening of the Olympic Games in the entrance hall of the junior high school every day, said, "Once the number of days remaining is about 100 days. I thought it was a little longer, but it was postponed and started again from 300 days or more. I have a disappointing feeling, but I have a strong desire to run firmly even if the date is extended. "

Regarding the torch relay, which will be the 10th anniversary of the earthquake next year, he said, "Immediately after the earthquake, there was nothing along the sea, but now houses are starting to be built and it is full of energy. Since only the miserable situation was taken up, I would like to show the disaster area that has regained its vitality. "

In addition, Ms. Momonei Ito, a second-year student who suffered damage from a large amount of debris flowing into her home, which doubles as a fresh fish shop, said, "I still want to give back to the people who helped me when the disaster struck. I want to run the relay, give back, and cheer up the locals. "

Four of the runners are in the third grade and will graduate from junior high school next spring, but they are waiting for contact from the Games Organizing Committee to see if all eight members can run.

Yamanashi Intractable disease man "Courage for people with the same illness"

It has been six months since the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics was decided in 24 days.

A man in Yamanashi Prefecture, who has been selected as a holy fire runner, has the courage to see his running and fight against the disease while the intractable Parkinson's disease gradually progresses and the competition is affected by the new coronavirus. If you want, I'm starting to practice running again for next summer.

Kenyuki Narumiya (56), who works as an internist at Yamanashi Kosei Hospital in Yamanashi City, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the age of 38, an intractable disease in which nerve cells in the brain become abnormal and his limbs tremble or become immobile. it was done.

At first, Mr. Narumiya didn't want people around him to know about his illness, but at the opening ceremony of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, he suffered from Parkinson's disease and lit the torch. Watching the footage of the heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali after the onset of illness was one of the triggers that led me to think about living without hiding my illness.

I applied for the torchbearer to have the courage of many people who are also fighting illness by seeing myself challenging even intractable diseases.

Mr. Narumiya said, "I hope that you will see yourself as you are, have an understanding of your illness, and give courage to people with the same illness."

Due to the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics, Mr. Narumiya once stopped practicing running, but on the 19th of this month, he resumed practicing with his eldest son, Toshiya, who was 11 years old, in case he fell.

I was able to run a distance of about 100 meters on that day, but as the symptoms of the illness gradually progressed, I was worried whether I could maintain my physical condition until next year's torch relay.

Mr. Narumiya said, "I felt that my muscles were weak when I ran. Anyway, I want to get in shape first, practice repeatedly, and go to the actual performance."

For the torch relay, the reduction of the event is being considered due to the influence of the new corona, but Mr. Narumiya said, "I want to run in front of many people, but if you can not see it live, you can use the video. If you can see it, "he said.