A gold medalist of the Paralympic swimming race, who declined the torchbearer of the Tokyo Olympics, told NHK that he could really hold a torch relay and the Tokyo Games while the spread of the new corona infection could not be seen. I have doubts about it. "
Rina Akiyama, who was born in Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, participated in three Paralympic Games in swimming and visually impaired classes, won a gold medal at the London Paralympics, and was selected as a torchbearer in Kanagawa Prefecture, but this month. I offered to decline.
According to NHK's interview, Mr. Akiyama commented on the reason for declining, "I'm afraid that I can often say that even though I'm a player who participated in the past, but while I can't see the convergence of the new Corona, the torch relay and the Tokyo tournament I wonder if it can really be done or if it can be done. "
On top of that, "Is it really realistic to call players from overseas in the midst of very limited daily life? You have to refrain from big events to prevent the spread of infection. There is also inequality that it is not possible to do so. I felt uneasy and doubtful as one of the people rather than a Paralympian, so I decided to decline. "
On the other hand, Mr. Akiyama mentioned that the event in which he won the silver medal at the Athens Paralympics was not held at the next Beijing Paralympics. I knew how hard my friends, who had participated in the Paralympics and fought with me, were working toward the Tokyo Games, so I thought it would be great to announce that I had any doubts. " It was.