The Japanese women's soccer star withdrew from the Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay, and the organizing committee hinted at changing the Olympic plan

Japanese women's soccer star Kawasumi Nasumi said through social media on the 23rd that out of concern about the risk of contracting the new crown virus, she decided not to participate in the Torch Relay of the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Kawasumi, one of the heroes of the 2011 World Cup, currently plays for the New Jersey Sky Blues in the U.S. Women's Soccer League and must fly back to Japan from the United States to participate in the torch relay in Japan.

Kawasumi Nasumi said on social media on the 23rd: "Because of the current new crown epidemic, I quit the torch relay activities. The decision was made because I didn't want to cause trouble for my team and the fans. ”

The Tokyo Olympic Flame arrived at Matsushima Base Airport in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, from Greece on the 20th, and after a brief welcome ceremony, began a six-day tour of the disaster area (the area affected by the 2011 Earthquake in Japan).

On the 26th, the Olympic Organizing Committee will hold the opening ceremony of the torch relay at the Japan Football Training Center in Fukushima Prefecture, officially starting the 121-day torch relay that spans 47 prefectures across Japan.

Just before that, Yoshiro Mori, chairman of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee, had said: "We are not stupid enough to think that it will be held according to the original [plan]", suggesting that the plan to host the Olympic Games as usual will be changed.

Yoshiro Mori revealed that there has been an agreement with IOC President Bach to select representatives from the Japanese side and the IOC side to negotiate the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics.