2020 Summer Paralympics torch relay

The 2020 Summer Paralympics torch relay was held from 12 August 2021 to 24 August 2021. After being lit in multiple locations in Japan and Great Britain, the torch was intended to travel around Japan and end in Tokyo's New National Stadium, the main venue of the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[1] The relay took place on a smaller scale than the Olympic relay, starting in Tokyo, with local flames lighted through Saitama, Chiba and Shizuoka prefectures where events of the games were held.[2][3][4] The relay ended at the 2020 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony.[5][6] The LIXIL Corporation was the presenting partner of the torch relay.[7]

XVI Paralympic Games
Host cityTokyo, Japan
Countries visitedGreat Britain, Japan
ThemeShare Your Light
Start date12 August 2021 (2021-08-12)
End date24 August 2021 (2021-08-24)

Relay

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The relay started with Flame festivals planned in 43 of prefectures of Japan, as well as additional locations hosting the Paralympics. On 20 August, the flames from each location will be brought together as one, along with an additional flame from Stoke Mandeville, Great Britain, the birthplace of the Paralympic movement, to become a single Paralympic Flame at a ceremony in Tokyo.[8] From 21 to 25 August, the one flame will follow a single route, culminating at the New National Stadium for the opening ceremonies.

Route in Japan

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Prefecture Route[9] Map
Hokkaido
12 August 2021 (day 1): Fukagawa to Mukawa
  • Fukagawa (Fukagawa City Athletics Field)
  • Sapporo (Sapporo City Hall)
  • Kitahiroshima (Kitahiroshima City Hall)
  • Tomakomai (Tomakomai City Hall)
  • Asahikawa (Kawamura Kaneto Aynu Memorial Hall and Hanasaki Sports Park Athletic Field)
  • Nayoro (Nayoro Observatory)
  • Kitami (Kitami Citizens Skating Rink)
  • Abashiri (Abashiri Sports and Recreation Center)
  • Tobetsu (Tobetsu Gymnasium)
  • Esashi (Asunaro Social Welfare Service Corporation)
  • Mukawa (Hobetsu Museum)
13 August 2021 (day 2): Eniwa
  • Eniwa (Eniwa City Child's Development Support Center)
14 August 2021 (day 3): Ebetsu to Atsuma
15 August 2021 (day 4): Abira
  • Abira (Hayakita Elementary School)
16 August 2021 (day 5): Shiraoi to Sapporo
Unknown date in August 2021 (day unknown): Route unknown
Aomori
15 August 2021 (day 4): Hirosaki to Aomori
  • Hirosaki (Omori Katsuyama Stone Circle)
  • Hachinohe (Korekawa Archaeological Institution)
  • Towada (Towada City Hall)
  • Misawa (Minamiyama Outdoor Sports Facility)
  • Hiranai
  • (Yogoshiyama Forest Park)Nakadomari (Miyakoshi Garden)
  • Noheji (Shibasaki Health and Recreation Facility)
  • Aomori (Sannai Maruyama Site)
16 August 2021 (day 5): Misawa
  • Misawa (Minamiyama Outdoor Sports Facility)
Iwate
12 August 2021 (day 1): Hanamaki to Ichinohe
13 August 2021 (day 2): Yahaba to Hirono
14 August 2021 (day 3): Iwate to Sumita
  • Iwate (Roadside Station Ishigaminooka)
  • Sumita (Sumita Town Hall)
15 August 2021 (day 4): Morioka to Ninohe
  • Morioka (Arcade, Morioka Odori Shopping Street)
  • Hachimantai (Hachimantai Matsuo General Sports Park)
  • Shiwa (Ogal Square East)
  • Hiraizumi (Hiraizumi Elementary School)
  • Miyako (Kuwagasaki Community Center, Tsugaruishi Community Center, Omoe Elementary School and Taro Daiichi Junior High School)
  • Ōfunato (Suzaki River Waterfront Plaza)
  • Kamaishi (Kamaishi Station Square)
  • Kuji (Kuji Civic Gymnasium)
  • Ninohe (Ninohe City Civic Center)
16 August 2021 (day 5): Takizawa to Morioka
Miyagi
12 August 2021 (day 1): Kesennuma
  • Kesennuma (Kesennuma City Welfare Center Yasuragi)
14 August 2021 (day 3): Kakuda to Kami
  • Kakuda (Daiyama Park)
  • Kami (Nakaniida Cultural Center)
15 August 2021 (day 4): Sendai to Hachimantai
  • Sendai (Sendsi Social Welfare Service Corporation and Sensyunomori Restaurant Peer-terrace)
  • Ishinomaki (Ishinomaki City General Sports Park)
  • Higashimatsushima (Okumatsushima Jomon Village Museum)
  • Ōsaki (Kashimadai Central Baseball Ground, Kashimadai Mizuhanamidori Entertainment Plaza)
  • Watari (Miyagi Prefecture Fishery Cooperative, Sennan Branch, Watari Fish Market)
16 August 2021 (day 5): Iwanuma to Sendai
  • Iwanuma (Iwanuma Fire Station)
  • Sendai (Kotodai Park Open-Air Concert Hall)
Akita
12 August 2021 (day 1): Kazuno to Higashinaruse
14 August 2021 (day 3): Odate to Ikawa
  • Odate (Odate Cultural Hall)
  • Ikawa (Kirigaoka Disability Support Facility)
15 August 2021 (day 4): Akita to Ōgata
  • Akita (Neburi Nagashi Kan, Akita City Folk Performing Arts Heritage Center)
  • Noshiro (Science Park Noshiro City Children's Center)
  • Semboku (Unganji Temple)
  • Gojōme (Gojōme Pubrlic Center)
  • Hachirōgata (Hachirōgata Town Public Hall)
  • Ōgata (Akita Prefecture Agricultural Training Center)
16 August 2021 (day 5): Yokote to Akita
  • Yokote (Yokote Budokan)
  • Oga (Shinzan Shrine)
  • Yuzawa (Yuzawa Geothermal Power Plant)
  • Yurihonjō (Chokai Sports Square)
  • Katagami (Disability Support Facility Cafe Tukushinbo)
  • Daisen
  • (Hottnosakua National Historic Site)Kamikoani (Bussha Area Natural Park)
  • Mitane (Ishikurayama Camp Site)
  • Misato (House of Sakamoto Togaku)
  • Ugo (Bonfire Square)
  • Akita (Akita Shopping Center
Yamagata
12 August 2021 (day 1): Yamagata to Yuza
  • Yamagata (Yamadera Konpon Chudo Hall and Zao Daigongen Hall)
  • Sagae (Jionji Temple)
  • Murayama (Atago-bori moat, Okubo)
  • Yuza (Yuza Town Hall)
13 August 2021 (day 2): Sakata to Asahi
  • Sakata (Hiyoriyama Park)
  • Tendō (Tendō Nishinumata Site Park)
  • Asahi (Kukijinja Shrine)
14 August 2021 (day 3): Tsuruoka to Mamurogawa
  • Tsuruoka (Tsuruoka Komagihara Athletic Field)
  • Higashine (Higashine Municipal Gymnasium)
  • Kahoku (Iwaki Rural Park)
  • Nishikawa (Hondouji Kuchinomiya Yudonosan Shrine)
  • Kaneyama (Kaneyama Town Nousonkankyoukaizen Center)
  • Mamurogawa (Mamurogawa Town Event House Yurakukan)
15 August 2021 (day 4): Shinjō to Akita
  • Shinjō (Shinjo City Hall)
  • Nagai (Kawanominato Nagai)
  • Obanazawa (Obanazawa Pottery Facility)
  • Yamanobe (Yamanobe Town Central Public Hall)
  • Nakayama (Nakayama Town Central Public Hall)
  • Ōe (Mogami Riverside)
  • Ōishida (Niji-no-Plaza, Ōishida Community Center)
  • Tozawa (Tozawa Central Public Hall)
  • Takahata (Takahata Town Chamber of Commerce)
  • Shirataka (Shirataka Central Public Hall)
  • Iide (Iide Town General Center "Earth")
  • Mikawa (Nanohana Hall)
16 August 2021 (day 5): Yonezawa to Tendō
  • Yonezawa (Yonezawa Municipal Gymnasium)
  • Kaminoyama (Kaminoyama Hotel)
  • Nan'yō (Nan'yō City Hall)
  • Mogami (Houjin-no-ie)
  • Funagata ("Koseien" Facilities for Supporting People with Disabilities)
  • Ōkura (Ōkura Central Public Hall)
  • Sakegawa (Sakegawa Village Recreational Park)
  • Kawanishi (Daikoin Temple)
  • Oguni (Omiyakoyasuryo Shrine)
  • Shōnai ("Himawarien" Multi-functional Facility for Persons with Disabilities)
  • Tendō (Yamagata Prefectural General Sports Park)
Fukushima
12 August 2021 (day 1): Naraha to Hirono
  • Naraha (National Training Center J-Village)
  • Hirono (National Training Center J-Village)
13 August 2021 (day 2): Fukushima
14 August 2021 (day 3): Inawashiro
15 August 2021 (day 4): Kōriyama
Ibaraki
16 August 2021 (day 5): Mito
  • Mito (Ibaraki Prefectural Government Building)
Tochigi
16 August 2021 (day 5): Utsunomiya
Gunma
16 August 2021 (day 5): Tomioka to Isesaki
  • Tomioka (Gunma Prefectural Tomioka Special Needs School)
  • Numata (Gunma Prefectural Numata Special Needs School)
  • Higashiagatsuma (Gunma Prefectural Agatsuma Special Needs School)
  • Fujioka (Gunma Prefectural Fujioka Special Needs School)
  • Tatebayashi (Gunma Prefectural Shibukawa Special Needs School)
  • Midori (Gunma Prefectural Watarase Special Needs School)
  • Maebashi (Gunma Prefectural School for the Blind and Gunma Prefecutral School for the Deaf)
  • Isesaki (Gunma Prefectural Fureai Sports Plaza)
Kanagawa
12 August 2021 (day 1): Matsuda
  • Matsuda (Matsuda Town Lifelong Learning Center)
13 August 2021 (day 2): Yokohama to Aikawa
14 August 2021 (day 3): Kawasaki to Ōiso
15 August 2021 (day 4): Fujisawa to Yokohama
Niigata
12 August 2021 (day 1): Joetsu to Awashimaura
13 August 2021 (day 2): Tainai to Kariwa
  • Tainai (Kurokawa Oil Field Park, Singleton Memorial Hall)
  • Kariwa (Kariwa Village Lifelong Learning Center "Rapika")
14 August 2021 (day 3): Kamo to Tsunan
  • Kamo (Kamo Nanatani Hot Spring "Bijin-no Yu")
  • Seirō (Seirō Welfare Workshop)
  • Tsunan (Tsunan Agriculture and Jomon Experience Museum "Najomon")
15 August 2021 (day 4): Niigata to Izumozaki
16 August 2021 (day 5): Sanjō to Niigata
  • Sanjō (Sanjō Blacksmith Dojo)
  • Kashiwazaki (Kashiwazaki Longrun, Niigata Prefectural Children's Natural Kingdom, Nishiyama Furusato Koen and Kashiwazaki Genkikan)
  • Ojiya (Untoan Temple)
  • Tōkamachi (Tōkamachi City General Gymnasium)
  • Mitsuke (Magokoro-gakuen Care Facility)
  • Itoigawa (Hisui-no-Sato School)
  • Myōkō (Myōkō City General Gymnasium)
  • Gosen (Gosen City Muramatsu Gymnasium)
  • Agano (Agano City Hall)
  • Uonuma (Uonuma City Hall)
  • Tagami (Tagami Roadside Station)
  • Aga (Kirinzan)
  • Yuzawa (Yuzawa Town Office)
  • Sekikawa (Sekikawa Village Public Hall)
  • Niigata (Niigata Fureai Plaza)
Toyama
13 August 2021 (day 2): Nanto to Kamiichi
14 August 2021 (day 3): Toyama to Asahi
15 August 2021 (day 4): Takaoka to Toyama
  • Takaoka (Shoukouji Temple)
  • Imizu (Osima Central Park)
  • Uozu (Ariso Dome)
  • Namerikawa ("Sun Abilities" Namerikawa City Industrial Training Center)
  • Himi (Yanaida Nunooyama Mounded Tomb)
  • Oyabe (Sakuramachi Jomon Park)
  • Funahashi (Funahashi Village Hall)
  • Tateyama (Ashikura Oyama Shrine)
  • Nyūzen (Jobenoma Ruins)
  • Toyama (Fugan Canal Park Water Plaza)
Ishikawa
16 August 2021 (day 5): Ishikawa Prefecture
Fukui
12 August 2021 (day 1): Sabae to Ikeda
14 August 2021 (day 3): Echizen
Yamanashi
12 August 2021 (day 1): Kōfu to Tabayama
13 August 2021 (day 2): Saku
16 August 2021 (day 5): Kōfu
Nagano
12 August 2021 (day 1): Nagano to Iida
13 August 2021 (day 2): Saku
14 August 2021 (day 3): Kiso
16 August 2021 (day 5): Nagano
Gifu
12 August 2021 (day 1): Ōgaki to Mitake
14 August 2021 (day 3): Nakatsugawa
14 August 2021 (day 3): Gifu
Aichi
12 August 2021 (day 1): Ichinomiya to Taketoyo
13 August 2021 (day 2): Toyokawa to Higashiura
Mie
13 August 2021 (day 2): Kisosaki to Ise
14 August 2021 (day 3): Ōdai to Kiho
15 August 2021 (day 4): Tōin to Tsu
?? August 2021 (day ?): TBD
Shiga
13 August 2021 (day 2): Kōka to Ise
14 August 2021 (day 3): Moriyama
15 August 2021 (day 4): Higashiōmi
Kyoto
12 August 2021 (day 1): Nantan
13 August 2021 (day 2): Kyōtamba
15 August 2021 (day 4): Fukuchiyama to Miyazu
16 August 2021 (day 5): Kyōtanabe to Kyoto
Osaka
12 August 2021 (day 1): Izumisano to Izumi
13 August 2021 (day 2): Izumiōtsu to Kanan
14 August 2021 (day 3): Toyonaka to Hirakata
?? August 2021 (day ?): Daitō
Hyōgo
13 August 2021 (day 2): Inagawa to Awaji
15 August 2021 (day 4): Amagasaki to Sumoto
16 August 2021 (day 5): Ichikawa to Kobe
?? August 2021 (day ?): Ashiya
Nara
16 August 2021 (day 5): Ōyodo
Wakayama
16 August 2021 (day 5): Tanabe
Tottori
12 August 2021 (day 1): Tottori to Yonago
16 August 2021 (day 5): Kurayoshi
Shimane
12 August 2021 (day 1): Unnan to Hamada
13 August 2021 (day 2): Matsue
15 August 2021 (day 4): Yasugi to Izumo
16 August 2021 (day 5): Matsue
Okayama
12 August 2021 (day 1): Ibara to Nishiawakura
13 August 2021 (day 2): Tsuyama to Kibichūō
15 August 2021 (day 4): Niimi to Nagi
16 August 2021 (day 5): rest of Okayama Prefecture
Kōchi
?? August 2021 (day ?): TBD
  • TBD
Shizuoka
Hiroshima
12 August 2021 (day 1): Miyoshi to Hamamatsu
  • Miyoshi (Miyoshi Fudoki no Oka)
  • Shōbara (Bihoku Hillside Park)
  • Fuchū (Aki Fuchū Lifelong Learning Center Kusunoki Plaza)
  • Akiōta (Kake Children's Club)
13 August 2021 (day 2): Kure to Hamamatsu
  • Kure (Yamato Wharf, Yamato Museum)
  • Mihara (Mihara Region Plaza)
  • Fuchū (Aki Fuchū Lifelong Learning Center Kusunoki Plaza)
  • Fukuyama (Fukuyama Fureai Land)
  • Ōtake (Hikari Children's Club, Midori Children's Club and Asunaro Children's Club)
  • Hatsukaichi (Hatsukaichi City Hall)
  • Akitakata (Akitakata Citizen Culture Center)
  • Saka (Saka Townspeople Center)
  • Kitahiroshima (Oasa Taiikukan)
  • Sera (Sera Town Hall)
  • Jinsekikōgen (Yuki Gymnasium)
  • Akiōta (Kake Children's Club)
Chiba
18 August 2021 (day 7): Chiba Prefecture
Saitama
19 August 2021 (Route 1; day 8): Satte to Asaka
19 August 2021 (Route 2; day 8): Hannō to Asaka

Tokyo metropolitan leg

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20 August 2021 (day 16)
01. Shinjuku
02. Nakano
03. Toshima
04. Kita
05. Bunkyō
21 August 2021 (day 17)
06. Chiyoda
07. Taitō
08. Sumida
09. Kōtō
010. Edogawa
22 August 2021 (day 18)
011. Kunitachi
012. Hino
013. Tachikawa
014. Higashiyamato
015. Kokubunji
23 August 2021 (day 17)
016. Nishitōkyō
017. Mitaka
018. Fuchū
019. Chōfu
020. Setagaya
24 August 2021 (day 17)
021. Chūō
022. Minato
023. Chiyoda (Hibiya)
024. Shinjuku
025. New National Stadium

Ceremony changes

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Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and several prefectures declared state of emergency amid COVID-19 surge and in Shizuoka Prefecture's case, the 2021 Atami landslide,[10][11] many of the public stages of the relay were truncated to be more ceremonial rather than functional such as alternative events. Participants of the relay would carry the torch for about 30 meters before passing the flame to another participant rather than carrying it for long stretches.

End of torch relay

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At the 2020 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony, the relay ended with the lighting of the cauldron. Yui Kamiji, Karin Morisaki, and Shunsuke Uchida lit the cauldron.

References

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  1. ^ ""Share Your Light" to be Paralympic Torch Relay Concept - Accessible Japan". Accessible-japan.com. 21 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Tokyo 2020: Torch Relay concept revealed". IPC. 21 December 2018.
  3. ^ "Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Torch Relay | the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games". Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Tokyo 2020 Unveils Paralympic Torch Relay Concept: "Share Your Light"|The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games". The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
  5. ^ Palmer, Dan (30 November 2018). "Toyota become presenting partner of Tokyo 2020 Torch Relay". Insidethegames.biz.
  6. ^ "Tokyo 2020: Torch Relay concept revealed". Paralympic.org. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019. "Share Your Light" will be theme for Paralympic relay
  7. ^ "Tokyo 2020: LIXIL first presenting partner for Paralympic Torch Relay". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  8. ^ Berkeley, Geoff (31 March 2021). "Tokyo 2020 announces plans for Paralympic Torch Relay and Flame festivals". Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games - Torch Relay Route". Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  10. ^ 熱海市でのパラ聖火リレー中止 土石流受け市が要請 (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  11. ^ 熱海市、パラ聖火リレー中止 土石流発生で「被災者の生活再建急務」 (in Japanese). Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
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