The Olympic flame has arrived in Japan although it’s anything but certain the Tokyo 2020 Games will even go ahead.
The flame arrived on special chartered flight and was received by former Japanese Olympians, Saori Yoshida and Tadahiro Nomura.
But the event had been dramatically scaled back. The flame was taken through a guard of honour to a cauldron in the shape of a cherry blossom. The 200 local children who were due to welcome the flame were not there.
There has been mounting criticism of Japan insisting on sticking to the Olympics plans. Athletes have accused the IOC of putting them “in danger” by insisting it remains fully committed to the Games.
