The Tokyo Olympic flame lighting ceremony was held in ancient Olympia, Greece, on March 12, 2020. /VCG

This year, the traditional ceremony was closed to the public amid fears over the coronavirus pandemic. /VCG

It marked the start of the Olympic Torch Relay, with one week in Greece followed by the Japan leg which begins on March 26. /VCG

However, with the fast global spread of the coronavirus, the fate of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to run from July 24 to August 8, remains in question. /VCG

IOC chief Thomas Bach said in an interview that the IOC will follow WHO advice on whether to cancel or postpone the Olympics. He acknowledged "serious problems with qualification competitions." /VCG