The Tokyo Olympic torch relay section due to be held in the city of Osaka later this month will be canceled due to a sharp rebound in coronavirus infections, officials said Thursday.
Just a week after the start of the nationwide relay, the event, aimed at boosting enthusiasm for the Olympics, was hit by more COVID-19-related trouble.
Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura told reporters that the prefectural government will formally decide to cancel the relay's segment in the western city in the near future and will inform the organizing committee for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.