TOKYO— Gold medal Paralympian Rina Akiyama pulled out of the Olympic torch relay at the eleventh hour this month, worried about drawing crowds that might spread the coronavirus, the latest in a series of cancellations that have plagued the event.
The withdrawal by Akiyama and more than a dozen celebrities from the relay, which starts Thursday, underscores the challenges facing organizers of one of the world’s most complex events, hosted by a nation where vaccinations have barely begun, in the midst of a yet-untamed pandemic.
“I’m a former athlete and know how important the Olympics and Paralympics are, but life should be prioritized above everything else,” said Akiyama, 33, a…
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