Solar Energy News  
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
1964 Olympic torchbearer frets about virus-hit Olympic relay
By Shingo ITO
Yokosuka, Japan (AFP) March 24, 2020

Even though it was 56 years ago, Kazuo Goto still vividly remembers his pride as he carried the Olympic flame on the last day of the torch relay when Tokyo hosted the Games in 1964.

But with the coronavirus threatening the torch relay and even the Olympic Games themselves, the 73-year-old believes the 2020 version should be scrapped, as torchbearers need to be able to carry the flame with a "clear conscience."

"We are not in a position where we can go ahead with the torch relay as planned," Goto, a former insurance broker, told AFP in an interview at his house in Yokosuka, southwest of Tokyo.

The white-haired former torchbearer recalled that he was "thrilled" to be part of the 1964 Olympic movement, which symbolised Japan's rise from the ashes of World War II to an economic and technological powerhouse.

And while treasuring his "emotional" memories of the event, he said he was now puzzled with organisers still going ahead with the 2020 Olympic torch relay while the outbreak of the new coronavirus has thrown the entire Tokyo Games into doubt.

Plugging ahead regardless seems to be "egoism" on the part of organisers, he charged.

Goto questioned what would happen if the torch relay begins but the Olympics are postponed in the middle of the event -- a fairly likely scenario with the International Olympic Committee giving itself four weeks to make a decision.

"Do they let them run and then they say they can't hold the Olympics?" he asked.

"I ran with my head high and chest out under the sunshine, representing my country. That's the significance," Goto said, cradling the torch he carried in 1964.

"It's best for torchbearers to run with a crystal-clear conscience."

- 'Hope lights our way' -

One prominent torchbearer, US-based Japanese football star Nahomi Kawasumi, has already pulled out of the relay, saying she did not want to risk infecting anyone given the number of cases is much higher in the US than in Japan.

The nationwide torch relay is due to begin on Thursday, starting from the J-Village sports complex in Fukushima that was used as a base for workers during the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.

But the coronavirus has already played havoc with the relay, forcing organisers to scale back celebrations and warn fans not to congregate in crowds along the route.

In what organisers described as a "heartbreaking" decision, they kept away some 200 children from welcoming the torch off the plane from Greece.

Goto said he feels sorry for the 10,000 bearers of the 2020 flame, whose big moment may be dampened by sparse crowds and who may run with mixed feelings.

"They are supposed to run with well-wishers. The torch relay is an integral part of the Olympics," he said.

The theme of the torch relay is "hope lights our way" and former Olympic judo champion Saori Yoshida, who lit a ceremonial cauldron with the flame when it arrived from Greece, said she wanted it to brighten people's lives in the current dark times.

"Although it's a tough time, I hope we can give hope and cheer to a lot of people with the Olympic flame relay," she said.

Isamu Miyagi, who was the first torchbearer at the 1964 Olympics and plans to run again this year, said he still believes "it's worth running" with the flame.

"I'm worried but it is beyond our control as to whether we can go ahead with the relay," said Miyagi, scheduled to run on May 3 in the southern island of Okinawa.

"I still hope it happens because the Olympic flame is the flame to light up the spirits of people fighting hardship," the 77-year-old told AFP in a phone interview.

"That's why we need to do the flame relay now," he said.

"I will keep preparing to carry the flame no matter what."


Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
A world of storm and tempest
When the Earth Quakes


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


DISASTER MANAGEMENT
'Elderly hour' in Aussie stores as panic-buying continues
Sydney, Australia (AFP) Mar 17, 2020
Australia's elderly were let in early to supermarkets on Tuesday but there were still scenes of coronavirus panic buying in some areas, with reports of empty shelves and large queues. After rushes on groceries, the country's biggest supermarket chain opened exclusively for elderly and disabled shoppers for an hour in an attempt to let them purchase essentials like toilet paper - which has repeatedly sold out and sparked several violent incidents. But the move prompted long queues outside sev ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
A novel biofuel system for hydrogen production from biomass

Recovering phosphorus from corn ethanol production can help reduce groundwater pollution

Deceptively simple process could boost plastics recycling

Scientists call for more sustainable palm oil practices

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Thai hospitals deploy 'ninja robots' to aid virus battle

Soft robot, unplugged

Stanford engineers create shape-changing, free-roaming soft robot

Small robots practice scouting skills for future Moon missions

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Opportunity blows for offshore wind in China

Alphabet cuts cord on power-generating kite business

Iberdrola will build its next wind farm in Spain with the most powerful wind turbine

UK looks to offshore wind for green energy transition

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Volvo Cars halts Europe, US production

Uber shares surge after citing signs of rebound from virus slump

Volvo Cars halts Europe, US productio

Tesla resumes work on German plant after court ruling

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Tiny double accelerator recycles energy

Engineers develop supercapacitor to power wearable electronic

A landmark plan for realizing fusion energy and advancing plasma science

Geothermal energy: Unlimited renewable energy for our homes

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Protests as Moscow moves to build road on radioactive dump

Framatome opens new research and operations center and expands Intercontrole in Cadarache, France

Atomic fingerprint identifies emission sources of uranium

US military plans portable mini nuclear power plants

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Brussels not dropping Green Deal despite virus

Czech PM urges EU to shelve Green Deal amid virus

The impact of energy development on bird populations

Brexit and Its Impact on Green Energy Projects

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Bushfires burned a fifth of Australia's forest: study

Close to tipping point, Amazon could collapse in 50 years

Protecting flood-controlling mangrove forests pays for itself

Burned area trends in the Amazon similar to previous years









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.