Page 17 - ARUBA TODAY

A17
Saturday 21 March 2020

In this Jan. 10, 2015, file pho-
to, New England Patriots quar-
terback Tom Brady holds up
the game ball after an NFL di-
visional playoff football game
against the Baltimore Ravens
in Foxborough, Mass.
Associated Press
Optics of

big NFL

contracts

just aren't

right A plane carrying the Olympic flame arrives before Olympic Flame Arrival Ceremony at Japan Air Self-Defense Force Matsushima
Base in Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, Friday, March 20, 2020.
Associated Press
By TIM DAHLBERG
AP Sports Columnist Olympic flame lands in Japan as
The NFL is now allowing
teams to announce free
agent signings, after a few
days of keeping things un- doubts grow over Tokyo Games
official because players
can't travel for physicals.
That's good for players and Associated Press ring to Tokyo's famous 1964 committee officials. Two of Olympics set to open in just
it's good for the league. MATSUSHIMA AIR BASE, Ja- Olympics. Tokyo was also Japan's most famous Olym- over four months.
Fans have something to pan (AP) — The Olympic to have been the venue for pians — three-time wresting The flame arrived in the
talk about, and players flame on Friday complet- the 1940 Olympics, which gold medalist Saori Yoshida northeastern part of Japan,
have some certainty about ed its difficult journey from were cancelled by World and three-time judo gold roughly 250 kilometers (150
where they might be play- Greece to Japan. War II. medalist Tadahiro Nomura miles) from Tokyo, that was
ing and how much they'll That signified a small, sym- "We will work closely with — received the flame for devastated by the 2011
be making when and if the bolic victory for the IOC the International Olympic the lighting ceremony. earthquake, tsunami and
2020 season begins. and local organizers, who Committee, the Japanese The two climbed portable meltdown of three nuclear
The optics, though, are a maintain the Tokyo Olym- government, and the To- stairs and entered the air- reactors that has left many
bit disconcerting. pics will open on July 24 kyo Metropolitan Govern- craft before emerging still living in temporary quar-
Go ahead and make amid a chorus of doubters ment," he said, and based holding the cradle-like can- ters.
the deals, sure. Just don't who believe they should on the World Health Orga- ister with a flame burning The flame will stay in north-
make too big of a deal be postponed or canceled nization's advice, "we will inside. They handed it over ern Japan for almost a
about them. because of the coronavirus ensure a safe and secure at the base of the stairs to week until the torch relay
It's not a time to celebrate pandemic. games." Mori, who delivered a brief begins officially on March
the $118 million Tennessee "For the first time in 56 years, The flame, carried in a acceptance speech in a 26 from Fukushima prefec-
gave Ryan Tannehill, or the Olympic torch is head- tiny canister from Greece, gusting wind. ture. It will be put on public
the $61 million Kirk Cousins ing to Tokyo and I hope reached Japan aboard a Yoshida and Nomura then display in the three prefec-
will be guaranteed to play that the Olympic torch white aircraft painted with took the torch and ignited tures most affected by the
under center for the Min- will illuminate the path of the inscription "Tokyo 2020 a large cauldron on the disaster — Miyagi, Iwate
nesota Vikings. Not a time hope for many people," or- Olympic Torch Relay" along tarmac of the air base. and Fukushima,
to debate whether tackle ganizing committee Presi- its side. The tail section was Mori referred to the "diffi- Even if the Olympics and
Jack Conklin should get dent Yoshiro Mori said at adorned with the refrain cult situation" with the virus, Paralympics don't start as
more than $30 million guar- a scaled-down arrival cer- "Hope Lights our Way. and then thanked the IOC scheduled, the burning
anteed from the Cleve- emony at an air base in The aircraft was welcomed and Greek officials that the flame could be used as a
land Browns. northern Japan. on the tarmac by a small "hand-over ceremony was symbol and a rallying point
Continued on page 22 Mori of course was refer- contingent of organizing able to be held" with the for the Japanese public.q