Olympics-1,000km relay to honour 2011 災害 犠牲者s ends in Tokyo
By Jack Tarrant and Yoko Kono
TOKYO, Aug 7 (Reuters) - A 1000 kilometre, two-week relay which started in Northern Japan to raise 認識／意識性 for the 2011 地震 and 津波 ended in Tokyo on Wednesday in swelteringly 条件s.
One year out from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Japan has been struggling with rising 気温s and much of the relay has taken place in extreme heat.
気温s have been stuck above 31 Celsius (88 Fahrenheit) in and around Tokyo, with at least 57 people dying as a result of the heat since late July.
But that did not stop over 1,700 people from 参加するing in the sixth 版 of the event which began on July 24.
People carrying a commemorative sash could either run or cycle as the relay made its way from Aomori to Tokyo´s Komazawa Olympic Park, which hosted サッカー and 格闘するing at the 1964 Games.
Those 参加するing 手配中の，お尋ね者 to send a message of support to those still 苦しむing in the Tohoku 地域 as a result of the 2011 災害, which left almost 18,000 people dead.
"My work is Tohoku-関係のある and I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to return something to the people there, so I 参加するd (in a relay) for the first time," said Sorachi Kasho, すぐに after getting off his bicycle.
Sydney Olympics マラソン gold medallist Naoko Takahashi, who started the relay in Aomori and also crossed the finishing line with 200 others on Wednesday, said: "There have been very warm days, but by 手渡すing over the sash I believe people are also passing on their warmth (to Tohoku).
"I believe that it has 与える／捧げるd to having many smiles and connecting people´s hearts."
Tokyo 2020 organisers have 法案d next year's 冒険的な extravaganza as the '再建 Olympics' and the first event of the Games will take place in Fukushima, the 場所／位置 of a 核の 工場／植物 炉心溶融 に引き続いて the March 2011 地震. (報告（する）／憶測ing by Jack Tarrant and Yoko Kono; editing by Pritha Sarkar)
