Japanese women's soccer star Kawasumi Saidumi said through social media yesterday that she decided not to participate in the torch relay event for the Tokyo Olympics out of concern about the risk of contracting the new crown pneumonia.
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.
Narumi Kawasumi said on social media yesterday: "Because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, I quit the Torch Relay campaign. The decision was made because I didn't want to cause trouble for my team and the fans. ”
The Tokyo Olympic Flame arrived from Greece at Matsushima Base Airport in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on March 20, 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 March 26, the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games 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 in 47 prefectures across Japan.