The Tokyo Olympics torch relay began in northeastern Fukushima prefecture, the area that was devastated by the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and the meltdown of three nuclear reactors

If the torch relay has problems, if COVID-19 cases pop up and if there are delays, it could send up red flags about the feasibility of holding the Tokyo Olympics

The Olympic Flame had been on public display in the northeastern Fukushima region since last week, but Japanese organisers decided to shelve it as coronavirus cases climb in the country

The public will have limited access to view the Olympic flame, and organizers hope to limit the crowd size because of restrictions in place for the coronavirus