Greece’s Hellenic Olympic Committee said Friday it will suspend the rest of the torch relay in that country for this summer’s Tokyo Games, due to concerns over the spread of the new coronavirus.
The decision was made a day after the Greek leg of the relay started following a lighting ceremony in Ancient Olympia. But the flame will be handed over to Japan in Athens on Thursday as scheduled without the presence of spectators, the committee said.
Tokyo Olympics CEO Toshiro Muto said the halt of the Greek relay will not influence the schedule of the Japanese leg at this time. The Japan relay is set to start on March 26 in Fukushima Prefecture.