The Greek Olympic committee says it is suspending the rest of its torch relay because of the “unexpectedly large crowd” that gathered to watch despite repeated requests for the public to stay away to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The Hellenic Olympic Committee says a large crowd had gathered to watch the flame for the Tokyo Olympics pass through the southern Greek town of Sparta.
The flame was lit Thursday at the birthplace of the games in Ancient Olympia in a pared-down ceremony.
Read More: Tokyo Olympic flame begins journey in Greece amid virus precautions
The committee says it took “the difficult but essential decision to cancel the rest of the program of the flame relay on Greek territory.”
It says the decision was taken in coordination with the health ministry and the International Olympic Committee.
The handover of the Olympic Flame to the Tokyo organising committee will go ahead as scheduled on March 19 at the stadium in Athens where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896.
Sourced by: Associated Press
