Olympic Flame Arrives In Tokyo
Voice of America
TOKYO - The Olympic flame arrived Friday in Tokyo, but the public will be kept away at a low-key welcoming ceremony because of coronavirus fears, the day after a "heartbreaking" announcement that spectators would be banned from most games events.
On a rainy morning exactly two weeks before the opening ceremony of the biggest sporting event since the pandemic began, the flame was brought on stage in a lantern and handed to Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike. Tokyo 2020 organizers and government officials announced Thursday night their decision to bar fans from Olympic events in the capital, which will be under a virus emergency throughout the games. It means the pandemic-postponed games will be the first to take place largely behind closed doors. A handful of competitions will take place outside the capital.India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) greets supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during his election campaign rally in Prayagraj, northern India, on May 21, 2024. People queue up to vote outside a polling booth during the fifth round of multi-phase national election in Howrah, India, May 20, 2024. Supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wear party headwear and cut out masks India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election campaign rally attended by Modi in Prayagraj on May 21, 2024.
FILE PHOTO: Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te's inauguration ceremony at the Presidential office building in Taipei Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te, right, and former President Tsai Ing-wen wave during Lai's inauguration ceremonies in Taipei, Taiwan, May 20, 2024.
FILE - A boy waves a Palestinian flag in Barcelona, Spain, on Jan. 20, 2024. European Union countries Spain and Ireland as well as Norway on Wednesday announced dates for recognizing Palestine as a state. A ship transporting international humanitarian aid is moored at the US-built Trident Pier near Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on May 21, 2024.
People queue up to vote outside a polling booth during the fifth round of multi-phase national election in Howrah, India, May 20, 2024. A woman carrying her daughter leaves after casting vote in a polling station during the fifth round of multi-phase national elections in Mumbai, India, May 20, 2024.
Ukrainian servicemen of the 92nd separate assault brigade load shells in an M109 self-propelled howitzer before firing towards Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv region, Ukraine May 20, 2024. In this photo released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on May 21, 2024, a Russian crew prepares a Tu-22M3 bomber for a training mission as part of drills to train the military for using tactical nuclear weapons at an undisclosed location in Russia.