In a way to show solidarity with International Olympics Committee (IOC) stance not to postpone the Tokyo Olympics and Paraolympics Games, about estimated 50,000 Japanese came out to view the Olympic Flame when it was put on display at Sendai railway station in the Japanese prefecture of Miyagi in spite of advice by the authority not to congregate.
Many wore facemasks as they reportedly queued for hours to take photographs of the flame burning in a cauldron at the station.
One unnamed 70-year-old woman told the Japanese national broadcaster NHK: “I queued for three hours but watching the Olympic Flame was greatly encouraging,”
Sendai was devastated by the 2011 tsunami and earthquake.The epicentre had been only 130 kilometres east of the city and the display had been arranged as part of the “Flame of Recovery” programme lasting almost a week.