Ten Years after Nuclear Disaster, Fukushima Hosts First Olympic Event

Government says there are no risks for carrying out matches on site

São Paulo

Ten years after one of the biggest nuclear disasters in history, Fukushima, Japan, will host the first sporting event of the Olympics. The softball match between Japan and Australia will take place this Tuesday (20), in a stadium 290 km from Tokyo.

On March 11, 2011, a chain reaction caused an accident that caused more than 18,000 deaths and left nearly 100,000 people homeless.

(FILES) This file photo taken on August 3, 2019 shows Fukushima Azuma baseball stadium, venue for the baseball and softball in Fukushima. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) - AFP

A magnitude 9.1 earthquake hit the archipelago. Waves up to 14 meters high flooded the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Three reactors melted and released radioactive elements into the air, water and land.

Three years ago, Greenpeace recorded higher-than-normal radioactive activity at J-Village, a training center that can be used by Olympic teams.

The Fukushima government has ensured that there are no risks for playing matches there.​