Olympic flame-lighting in Greece to be held despite fast-spreading virus

17:20, 04.03.2020

Next week’s flame-lighting ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics will go ahead in Greece despite concerns about the novel coronavirus outbreak, organizers said.

The Greek Olympic committee said on March 3 that it is working closely with the national health authorities and will hold meetings to re-evaluate the situation every two days.

The committee, known as the HOC, also said the Greek leg of the torch relay will go ahead, as reported by CBC News.

The Olympic flame is ceremonially lit months in advance of the Games at the birthplace of the ancient Olympics in southern Greece, among the ruined pagan temples of Ancient Olympia. From there, it is carried in a week-long relay through Greece before being handed over to Games organizers.

Greece has recorded seven cases of the virus, all linked with people who travelled from Italy.

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