France, March 25 -- The Olympic torch relay began on Thursday in Fukushima to launch the four-month countdown to the Tokyo games. It was a symbolic moment forthe runners, manyof whom were evacuees who fled their homes after the deadly March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Spectators were barred from the opening ceremony at the J-Village sports complex as part of the restrictions imposed by the Japanese government to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

"For the past year, as the entire world underwent a difficult period, the Olympic flame was kept alive quietly but powerfully," said Seiko Hashimoto who heads the Tokyo 2020 organising committee.

"The small flame did not lose hope, and just like the cherry blossom buds that are read...