The route of the Tokyo Olympic torch relay starting on the 25th of this month has been partially changed due to the impact of the earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of 6 or higher last month.
This is because the facilities of the shrine in Fukushima Prefecture, which is the route, may be damaged and the runners may be in danger.
The Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay will start at J-Village in Fukushima Prefecture on the 25th of this month, and will travel around the country after traveling around the prefecture for three days.
On the second day, the route from Soma Nakamura Shrine in Soma City to the front of JR Soma Station, which observed shaking with a seismic intensity of 6 or higher in the earthquake on the 13th of last month, was announced.
However, it was found that the lanterns collapsed in the precincts of the shrine that is the route, and the pillars of Ote-mon were also broken.
For this reason, Fukushima Prefecture has announced that it will change the route 300 meters for the first and second runners, saying that it may endanger the runners.
In addition, the starting point of the third person may change, so a new route will be announced at a later date.
Takahiro Sato, director of the Fukushima Olympic and Paralympic Promotion Office, said, "Currently, we are considering multiple alternative routes from the prefecture to the organizing committee of the Games. We will announce them as soon as they are decided."