The torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics ran through a mostly empty Osaka city park on Tuesday, showing the risks of trying to hold the postponed games during a pandemic.

It came on the same day that new coronavirus cases reportedly hit 1,000 for the first time in Japan's second largest metropolitan area.

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Entertainer Katsura Bunshi IV, participating as an Olympic torch relay runner, warms up as he waits for his preceding runner during the first day of the Osaka round at a former Expo site in Suita, north of Osaka, western Japan, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic kick-off event which was rescheduled due to the coronavirus outbreak was yet rearranged to hold at the former Expo park, instead of public streets, to close off the audience from the even, following the mayor's decision as Osaka has had sharp increases in daily cases since early March. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)

The torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics ran through a mostly empty Osaka city park on Tuesday, showing the risks of trying to hold the postponed games during a pandemic.
An Olympic torch relay runner, center, hands over the flame of the torch to the next runner during the first day of the Osaka round at a former Expo site in Suita, north of Osaka, western Japan, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic kick-off event which was rescheduled due to the coronavirus outbreak was yet rearranged to hold at the former Expo park, instead of public streets, to close off the audience from the even, following the mayor's decision as Osaka has had sharp increases in daily cases since early March. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)

Osaka, which announced plans last week to take the relay off city streets and bar the public, became the first detour since the relay began. Organizers warned beforehand there may be more.
Former Olympian Aya Terakawa, center, participating as an Olympic torch relay runner, waves as she carries the torch during the first day of the Osaka round at a former Expo site in Suita, north of Osaka, western Japan, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic kick-off event which was rescheduled due to the coronavirus outbreak was yet rearranged to hold at the former Expo park, instead of public streets, to close off the audience from the even, following the mayor's decision as Osaka has had sharp increases in daily cases since early March. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)

Japan has attributed about 9,500 deaths to COVID-19, far fewer than many countries but higher than most neighbors in Asia.
Former Olympian Aya Terakawa, participating as an Olympic torch relay runner, waves as she starts carrying the torch during the first day of the Osaka round at a former Expo site in Suita, north of Osaka, western Japan, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic kick-off event which was rescheduled due to the coronavirus outbreak was yet rearranged to hold at the former Expo park, instead of public streets, to close off the audience from the even, following the mayor's decision as Osaka has had sharp increases in daily cases since early March. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)

They were accompanied by security officials who jogged or walked alongside, and followed by an escort” or “promotional” vehicle festooned with logos of major Olympic sponsors Coca-Cola and Toyota.
Spectators wearing face masks and ninja outfits, cheer a torchbearer carrying the Olympic torch in Iga, Mie prefecture, central Japan, Thursday, April 8, 2021. Tokyo, the capital of Japan, has asked the central government for permission to implement emergency measures to curb a surge in a rapidly spreading and more contagious coronavirus variant, just over three months before the start of the Olympics. (Kyodo News via AP)

A poll conducted Saturday and Monday by Japanese news agency Kyodo showed 13.2% want the relay to continue until the opening ceremony. About 85% said it should be called off entirely, or canceled in areas with virus outbreaks.
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Entertainer Katsura Bunshi IV, participating as an Olympic torch relay runner, warms up as he waits for his preceding runner during the first day of the Osaka round at a former Expo site in Suita, north of Osaka, western Japan, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic kick-off event which was rescheduled due to the coronavirus outbreak was yet rearranged to hold at the former Expo park, instead of public streets, to close off the audience from the even, following the mayor's decision as Osaka has had sharp increases in daily cases since early March. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)

The torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics ran through a mostly empty Osaka city park on Tuesday, showing the risks of trying to hold the postponed games during a pandemic.

An Olympic torch relay runner, center, hands over the flame of the torch to the next runner during the first day of the Osaka round at a former Expo site in Suita, north of Osaka, western Japan, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic kick-off event which was rescheduled due to the coronavirus outbreak was yet rearranged to hold at the former Expo park, instead of public streets, to close off the audience from the even, following the mayor's decision as Osaka has had sharp increases in daily cases since early March. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)

Osaka, which announced plans last week to take the relay off city streets and bar the public, became the first detour since the relay began. Organizers warned beforehand there may be more.

Former Olympian Aya Terakawa, center, participating as an Olympic torch relay runner, waves as she carries the torch during the first day of the Osaka round at a former Expo site in Suita, north of Osaka, western Japan, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic kick-off event which was rescheduled due to the coronavirus outbreak was yet rearranged to hold at the former Expo park, instead of public streets, to close off the audience from the even, following the mayor's decision as Osaka has had sharp increases in daily cases since early March. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)

Japan has attributed about 9,500 deaths to COVID-19, far fewer than many countries but higher than most neighbors in Asia.

Former Olympian Aya Terakawa, participating as an Olympic torch relay runner, waves as she starts carrying the torch during the first day of the Osaka round at a former Expo site in Suita, north of Osaka, western Japan, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic kick-off event which was rescheduled due to the coronavirus outbreak was yet rearranged to hold at the former Expo park, instead of public streets, to close off the audience from the even, following the mayor's decision as Osaka has had sharp increases in daily cases since early March. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)

They were accompanied by security officials who jogged or walked alongside, and followed by an escort” or “promotional” vehicle festooned with logos of major Olympic sponsors Coca-Cola and Toyota.

Spectators wearing face masks and ninja outfits, cheer a torchbearer carrying the Olympic torch in Iga, Mie prefecture, central Japan, Thursday, April 8, 2021. Tokyo, the capital of Japan, has asked the central government for permission to implement emergency measures to curb a surge in a rapidly spreading and more contagious coronavirus variant, just over three months before the start of the Olympics. (Kyodo News via AP)

A poll conducted Saturday and Monday by Japanese news agency Kyodo showed 13.2% want the relay to continue until the opening ceremony. About 85% said it should be called off entirely, or canceled in areas with virus outbreaks.

The torch relay began three weeks ago in northeastern Japan, attempting to navigate around the pandemic with a total of 10,000 runners crisscrossing the country and bound for the opening ceremony on July 23 in Tokyo.

Entertainer Katsura Bunshi IV, participating as an Olympic torch relay runner, warms up as he waits for his preceding runner during the first day of the Osaka round at a former Expo site in Suita, north of Osaka, western Japan, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic kick-off event which was rescheduled due to the coronavirus outbreak was yet rearranged to hold at the former Expo park, instead of public streets, to close off the audience from the even, following the mayor's decision as Osaka has had sharp increases in daily cases since early March. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)

Entertainer Katsura Bunshi IV, participating as an Olympic torch relay runner, warms up as he waits for his preceding runner during the first day of the Osaka round at a former Expo site in Suita, north of Osaka, western Japan, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic kick-off event which was rescheduled due to the coronavirus outbreak was yet rearranged to hold at the former Expo park, instead of public streets, to close off the audience from the even, following the mayor's decision as Osaka has had sharp increases in daily cases since early March. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)

Osaka, which announced plans last week to take the relay off city streets and bar the public, became the first detour since the relay began. Organizers warned beforehand there may be more.

Wednesday's second leg in Osaka — the day the Tokyo countdown clock hits 100 day to go — will be in the same park under the same closed-doors conditions.

New COVID-19 cases are rising across Japan, where fewer than 1% of residents have been vaccinated in very slow rollout.

An Olympic torch relay runner, center, hands over the flame of the torch to the next runner during the first day of the Osaka round at a former Expo site in Suita, north of Osaka, western Japan, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic kick-off event which was rescheduled due to the coronavirus outbreak was yet rearranged to hold at the former Expo park, instead of public streets, to close off the audience from the even, following the mayor's decision as Osaka has had sharp increases in daily cases since early March. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)

An Olympic torch relay runner, center, hands over the flame of the torch to the next runner during the first day of the Osaka round at a former Expo site in Suita, north of Osaka, western Japan, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic kick-off event which was rescheduled due to the coronavirus outbreak was yet rearranged to hold at the former Expo park, instead of public streets, to close off the audience from the even, following the mayor's decision as Osaka has had sharp increases in daily cases since early March. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)

Japan has attributed about 9,500 deaths to COVID-19, far fewer than many countries but higher than most neighbors in Asia.

Osaka, Tokyo and other parts of Japan have declared “quasi-emergency” conditions until early May with bars and restaurants being asked to close by 8 p.m.

Many runners arrived in Osaka's Expo '70 Commemorative Park by bus and ran short legs carrying the torch alongside metal barriers or in empty park space.

Former Olympian Aya Terakawa, center, participating as an Olympic torch relay runner, waves as she carries the torch during the first day of the Osaka round at a former Expo site in Suita, north of Osaka, western Japan, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic kick-off event which was rescheduled due to the coronavirus outbreak was yet rearranged to hold at the former Expo park, instead of public streets, to close off the audience from the even, following the mayor's decision as Osaka has had sharp increases in daily cases since early March. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)

Former Olympian Aya Terakawa, center, participating as an Olympic torch relay runner, waves as she carries the torch during the first day of the Osaka round at a former Expo site in Suita, north of Osaka, western Japan, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic kick-off event which was rescheduled due to the coronavirus outbreak was yet rearranged to hold at the former Expo park, instead of public streets, to close off the audience from the even, following the mayor's decision as Osaka has had sharp increases in daily cases since early March. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)

They were accompanied by security officials who jogged or walked alongside, and followed by an escort” or “promotional” vehicle festooned with logos of major Olympic sponsors Coca-Cola and Toyota.

After the postponement a year ago, organizers talked of doing away with the relay to save money. That idea never gained traction, largely because it's promoted by some of the IOC largest sponsors.

The top sponsors paid the International Olympic Committee $1 billion in the last full Olympic cycle (2013-2016). That number could double when the next cycle is completed with the postponed Tokyo Games.

Former Olympian Aya Terakawa, participating as an Olympic torch relay runner, waves as she starts carrying the torch during the first day of the Osaka round at a former Expo site in Suita, north of Osaka, western Japan, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic kick-off event which was rescheduled due to the coronavirus outbreak was yet rearranged to hold at the former Expo park, instead of public streets, to close off the audience from the even, following the mayor's decision as Osaka has had sharp increases in daily cases since early March. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)

Former Olympian Aya Terakawa, participating as an Olympic torch relay runner, waves as she starts carrying the torch during the first day of the Osaka round at a former Expo site in Suita, north of Osaka, western Japan, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic kick-off event which was rescheduled due to the coronavirus outbreak was yet rearranged to hold at the former Expo park, instead of public streets, to close off the audience from the even, following the mayor's decision as Osaka has had sharp increases in daily cases since early March. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)

A poll conducted Saturday and Monday by Japanese news agency Kyodo showed 13.2% want the relay to continue until the opening ceremony. About 85% said it should be called off entirely, or canceled in areas with virus outbreaks.

Opposition to holding the Olympics in a pandemic is also strong in Japan with up to 80% saying the games should be canceled or postponed.

The Olympics and Paralympics are expected to draw 15,400 athletes and tens of thousands of officials, judges, media, and broadcaster. Fans from abroad have been banned.

Spectators wearing face masks and ninja outfits, cheer a torchbearer carrying the Olympic torch in Iga, Mie prefecture, central Japan, Thursday, April 8, 2021. Tokyo, the capital of Japan, has asked the central government for permission to implement emergency measures to curb a surge in a rapidly spreading and more contagious coronavirus variant, just over three months before the start of the Olympics. (Kyodo News via AP)

Spectators wearing face masks and ninja outfits, cheer a torchbearer carrying the Olympic torch in Iga, Mie prefecture, central Japan, Thursday, April 8, 2021. Tokyo, the capital of Japan, has asked the central government for permission to implement emergency measures to curb a surge in a rapidly spreading and more contagious coronavirus variant, just over three months before the start of the Olympics. (Kyodo News via AP)

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