Tokyo 2020 drops children from Olympic torch events as coronavirus precaution

Some 340 Japanese children will be not able to participate in the Olympic torch functions for the handover in Greece and appearance in Japan because of safety measures being taken against the spread of the coronavirus, Tokyo 2020  chief Yoshiro Mori said on Friday.

Mori, a previous PM who heads the Tokyo 2020 sorting out board of trustees, again rebuked hypothesis that the Games may be dropped due to the coronavirus flare-up.

"Impossible," Mori told reporters who asked regarding the potential crossing out. On Wednesday, when he was asked when the coordinators could settle on any progressions to the Olympics if the infection continued spreading he stated: "I'm not a God, so I don't know."

Mori has said that the central arrangement right presently was to hold the Games as planned, however, stressed that the coordinators were tuning in to different sentiments and would be adaptable about the occasions in the run-up because the circumstance was developing quickly.

The number of coronavirus cases in Japan remained at 1,057 as of Friday morning. The infection has slaughtered 12 individuals in Japan and more than 3,000 all-inclusive since toward the end of last year.

The Olympic light will be lit in Olympia at a downsized service on March 12 preceding a seven-day hand-off that will finish with a handover function in Greece on March 19, which 140 Japanese youngsters had been scheduled to join in. Around 200 more were to have taken part in the appearance service in Japan on March 20.

"The kids rehearsed exceptionally hard for the functions, so we're extremely heartbroken about that. We'll attempt to make it up to them during the Games," said Mori.

Sprinters and staff associated with the transfer leading after its appearance in Japan will have their temperature and wellbeing checked, and the number of individuals going to occasions could be limited, the coordinators said.