In Japan

The 2020 Paralympic Games will kick off in Tokyo with the opening ceremony on Tuesday as Japan struggles with its worst COVID-19 outbreak so far, record daily cases and an overwhelmed medical system.

A first coronavirus case has been detected in the Paralympic Village, days before the Games open, organizers said on Aug. 19 as Japan battles a record wave of infections.

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The case involves a Games-related member of staff who is not resident in Japan, according to organizers, who did not give further details.

About 11.000 athletes are expected to participate in the competition, of which 86 are from Serbia in as many as 16 different disciplines.
The Olympic Games in Tokyo were supposed to be held last summer, but they were postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The opening ceremony will start on Friday at 1 p.m., and the competition will last until August 8.

The world is an Olympics, from today! At 14:00 Bulgarian time will be officially opened the 29th Summer Olympic Games in the Japanese capital Tokyo. For the first time in the history of modern Games, the opening ceremony will take place without the presence of an audience. Due to the pandemic, the stands will be empty during all competitions of the program.

Nine further coronavirus cases have been recorded by Olympics organizers.

One athlete in the Olympic Village was among the cases, according to the organizers' daily coronavirus report published Tuesday morning.

The new cases brings the number of positive tests since July 1 up to 67.

The focal depth of the earthquake is estimated at 17 km

Japan plans to lift Tokyo's virus emergency on June 20, a month before the Olympics, the government announced on June 17 as reports said only 10,000 spectators would be allowed at Games events.

The president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee hinted Friday that even local fans may be barred from venues when the games open in just under two months.

Fans from abroad were ruled out months ago as being too risky during a pandemic.

 A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Japan's northeastern coast on May 1, authorities said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

At least three people were injured by Saturday's jolt, which produced strong shaking along parts of the eastern coast and was also felt in Tokyo.

The global coronavirus death toll was expected to reach three million on April 17, as the race for immunization continues and countries like India grapple with rising infections and new lockdowns.