Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay starts in Japan with baseball/softball celebrating being one step closer to Olympic return

The Olympic flame, as dubbed the 'Flame of Recovery', began its journey in Japan on Thursday and will travel across all 47 of the host nation’s prefectures. 

The epic relay through Japan started at the J-Village in Fukushima, and will finish at the Olympic Opening Ceremony in Tokyo on 23 July, when the cauldron will be lit.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Flame was originally lit on 12 March 2020, in Olympia, Greece, and with baseball and softball expected to be among the most followed events at the Tokyo Games, WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari was called upon to be one of the torchbearers in nearby Kyparissia.

The WBSC president said at the time: "Today, the Olympic Flame begins its journey to Tokyo 2020, where baseball and softball have a special place in the culture and will help transmit Olympic values around the world.”

Softball will do the honours of being the first Olympic competition of the Tokyo Games, when Australian and Japan meet in Fukushima on 21 July - two days before the Opening Ceremony.

Athletes and sports lovers all around the world can watch the live-stream of the Olympic flame via the Olympic Channel here.

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