Nov 27 (NHK) - NHK has learned that the Olympic rings will return to Tokyo Bay on December 1, following safety and maintenance checks.
The giant rings were set up on the water in Tokyo's Odaiba district in January as the Japanese capital prepared to host the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
But safety and maintenance checks became necessary after the Tokyo 2020 Games were postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The rings were removed in August.
Sources say the rings will be carried on a barge to the display site and reinstalled on December 1.
The Olympic symbol used to be lit up every night before it was removed for the safety checks.
To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it will only be lit up on the first day and no ceremony will be held.
A Tokyo Metropolitan government official says they want people to feel that the Games are approaching and to build momentum for the event.