Governor Kuroiwa of Kanagawa Prefecture announced that he has decided to cancel the torch relay on public roads scheduled from the 28th after examining the infection situation in the prefecture.
The torch relay in Kanagawa Prefecture was scheduled to be held for three days from June 28th to 30th, and it was planned to visit 15 cities and towns in the prefecture.
However, Governor Kuroiwa decided at a press conference on the 11th, "Even if priority measures such as prevention of spread can be lifted on the 20th of this month, it is necessary to continue the request to refrain from going out under the current infection situation, and the torch relay cannot be done. We announced that we would stop relaying on public roads in all sections.
Instead, the prefecture wants to hold a ceremony for the torch runners to light the torch at three venues: Fujisawa City, Sagamihara City, and Yokohama City, where the ceremony to accompany the torch relay was to be held. So, in the future, we will coordinate with the Games Organizing Committee.
In addition, it has been decided to cancel the public viewing scheduled at the beaches in Fujisawa City and the parks in Odawara City during the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
Governor Kuroiwa said, "I am very sorry for the citizens of the prefecture who were looking forward to the torch relay. Especially, I think that the runners have been waiting for two years, so I will work with the Organizing Committee to hold a ceremony to connect the torch. I want to talk. "