Less than 100 days remain until the opening ceremony of the postponed Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, which have been marred for months by waning public support and a surging pandemic.
Organizers tried to strike a positive note during a celebration to mark the occasion Wednesday, espousing steadfast optimism even as new virus countermeasures are imposed in a growing list of prefectures as a fourth wave of the pandemic takes hold.
Uncertainty shrouds details of how the games will be held, if at all, but one thing remains clear: The virus is spreading at a quickening pace.