Olympics: Astronauts to encourage Tokyo 2020 torchbearers from space

Japanese astronauts will broadcast messages of encouragement from space during the torch relays for both the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, the local organizing committee said Monday.Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Akihiko Hoshide will send the messages to torchbearers from the International Space Station in their role as Tokyo 2020 "Torch Relay Space Ambassadors," the organizers said.The astronauts will also take part in other activities to promote the Olympics and Paralympics while orbiting Earth aboard the ISS.Related coverage:READ FULL ARTICLE