The Greek Olympic committee suspended the rest of its torch relay on Friday because of the “unexpectedly large crowd” that gathered to watch despite repeated requests for the public to stay away to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The committee said a large crowd had gathered to watch the flame for the Tokyo Olympics pass through the southern Greek town of Sparta. The flame was lit Thursday at the birthplace of the games in Ancient Olympia in a pared-down ceremony.
“(We took) the difficult but essential decision to cancel the rest of the program of the flame relay on Greek territory,” the committee said.
The decision was taken in coordination with the health ministry and the International Olympic Committee, it said.
The handover of the Olympic Flame to the Tokyo organizing committee will go ahead as scheduled on March 19 at the stadium in Athens where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896.
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ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell scored in the eighth round of a shootout to give Sweden a 4-3 victory over Finland on Sunday night in the world junior hockey semifinals.
Canada faced Czechia in the second semifinal. The final is Monday night.
The Swedes avenged a 4-3 overtime loss to Finland in the semifinals last year in Ottawa, Ontario. Sweden won its lone title in 1981 and 2012. It last appeared in the title game in 2024, falling 6-2 to the United States on home ice in Gothenburg.
Frondell — drafted third overall by Chicago last summer — put a wrist shot through Petteri Rimpinen's pads after failing on his first two attempts in the tiebreaker. His first attempt hit both posts.
“I blacked out,” Frondell said. “It was an amazing feeling … happy the last one went in.”
Sweden survived a power play in the 10-minute, 3-on-3 overtime after Viggo Bjork — who missed on three OT breakaways — was called for slashing with 2:03 left.
“This game, it was crazy, long game, tight, overtime, everything. Just one goal and then it’s over," Frondell said. "You love to play those games.”
Linus Eriksson, Ivar Stenberg and Eddie Genborg scored for Sweden in regulation, and Love Harenstam stopped 33 shots.
Atte Joki, Japser Kuhta and and Joona Saarelainen countered for Finland. Rimpinen made 29 saves.
Saarelainen tied it at 3 from close range with 5:59 left in the third.
Eriksson opened the scoring for Sweden at 36 seconds of the first period. Joki tied it with 3:34 to go in the period. Stenberg struck for Sweden at 1:20 of the second, and Kuhta countered 50 seconds later.
Genborg gave Sweden a 3-2 lead with 5:53 left in the second period.
On Friday in the quarterfinals, Finland beat the two-time defending champion United States 4-3 in overtime.
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Team Sweden players celebrate after Anton Frondell scored on Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen (30) during overtime shoot-out in an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship semifinals game in St. Paul, Minn., Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Team Sweden players celebrate after Anton Frondell scored on Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen during overtime shoot-out in an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship semifinals game in St. Paul, Minn., Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Sweden's Anton Frondell celebrates after scoring on Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen during overtime shoot-out in a semifinal IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship game in St. Paul, Minn., Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Sweden's Anton Frondell (16) scores on Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen during overtime shoot-out in an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship semifinals game in St. Paul, Minn., Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Finland forward Atte Joki (35) celebrates his goal against Sweden during the first period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship semifinals game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Sweden goalie Love Harenstam, left, defends the net as defenseman Leo Sahlin Wallenius, middle, and Finland forward Max Westergard compete for the puck during the first period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship semifinals game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Sweden forward Eddie Genborg celebrates his goal against Finland during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship semifinals game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Sweden goalie Love Harenstam defends his net against Finland during the first period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship semifinals game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Sweden forward Ivar Stenberg, right, celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship semifinals game against Finland, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
