Visitors see Olympic flame on special display

Visitors who came to see the Olympic flame for the end of a special display in Fukushima, Japan, had mixed feelings on Wednesday. Overnight on Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee and Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee said in a joint statement that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and IOC President Thomas Bach agreed to postpone the Olympic Games by one year based on the World Health Organization's view on the latest development on the coronavirus pandemic.

The Olympic flame on display in Fukushima as part of a six-day tour around affected areas by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Organizers had hoped that residents from the disaster-hit areas who have recovered and rebuilt their communities could see the flame after its arrival from Greece.

The "Flame of Recovery" is showcased in Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima prefectures for two days each. Organizers are still considering what to do with the Olympic flame while the Games are postponed.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness including pneumonia, but the vast majority of people recover from the virus.

The coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 425,000 people and killed over 18,000. More than 109,000 people have recovered so far, mostly in China.