World's oldest person pulls out of Tokyo Olympics torch relay
World+Biz
06 May, 2021, 07:15 pm
Last modified: 06 May, 2021, 07:15 pm
The relay, which began in March, has been hit by a coronavirus outbreak, with eight cases linked to the event
Kane Tanaka reportedly said she didn't want to risk spreading the virus to others in her nursing home. Picture: Reuters
The world's oldest person has withdrawn from the Olympic torch relay, saying she's worried about spreading Covid-19 to others in her nursing home.
Kane Tanaka, 118, was supposed to take part in the relay for Tokyo 2020 in Fukuoka, southern Japan, on 11 May, reports the BBC.
The relay, which began in March, has been hit by a coronavirus outbreak, with eight cases linked to the event.
Last month, amid a surge in cases, Japan declared a state of emergency in major cities including Tokyo and Osaka.
Several celebrities have also pulled out of the torch relay over concerns about the virus.
Tanaka, who was born in 1903, was recognised by Guinness World Record as the world's oldest living person in March 2019.
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