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Olympic Flame lighting ceremony to be held without spectators

The Olympic Flame lighting ceremony will be held Thursday in Olympia, Greece, without spectators due to coronavirus concerns.

Greece’s Olympic committee made the decision after a Monday meeting, taking into account the coronavirus situation in Greece.

The flame lighting ceremony, always held in the ancient Olympic site of Olympia, will be attended by 100 accredited guests from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, according to a press release.

It was previously announced that Wednesday’s dress rehearsal will be closed to the public.

For the first time, a woman will be the first Olympic torch relay torchbearer — Rio shooting gold medalist Anna Korakaki.