“Star Trek” actor and LGBTQ icon, George Takei admitted that his announcement that he will be the final torchbearer who lights the Olympic Flame when the rescheduled Summer Olympics kickoff in Tokyo in July 2021 was an April Fools Day prank.
Several news outlets, including Watermark, reported the news April 1.
“Yes, friends, I’m afraid this was an April Fools prank, a bit of levity in an otherwise dark time,” Takei posted. “And while I’ll not be lighting that fire myself, my eyes will look upon it as a symbol of our triumph over this invisible foe and a reuniting of the global community.”
Takei took to his Twitter account earlier in the day, writing “I’m excited to announce some big news. I’m honored beyond belief to have been selected to be the final torchbearer to light the Olympic Flame in Tokyo in 2021! This will be such a unique moment, before the eyes of the world, lighting the torch as a symbol of hope for the future!”
Yes, friends, I’m afraid this was an April Fools prank, a bit of levity in an otherwise dark time.
And while I’ll not be lighting that fire myself, my eyes will look upon it as a symbol of our triumph over this invisible foe and a reuniting of the global community. https://t.co/JedX85pbH4
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) April 1, 2020
According to Olympic.org, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Flame was lit in Greece and arrived in Japan on 20 March at Matsushima Air Base just before the Summer Olympics were postponed on March 24. The International Olympic Committee announced, due to the coronavirus pandemic, that the games would begin July 21, 2021.
The lantern containing the Olympic flame will be on display at the J-Village National Training Centre in Fukushima from April 2-30 with limited public viewing available.
