The Olympic rings are seen backlit by the afternoon sun in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward. (Mainichi)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Tokyo metropolitan government said Tuesday it will hold a ceremony in July to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which were held last year amid the coronavirus pandemic and took place without spectators for the first time in history.

       In addition to the ceremony planned for July 23, the same date as the 2021 Olympics opening ceremony, the Tokyo government said it will also hold an event on Aug. 24, exactly a year after the Paralympics opening ceremony, and host a half-marathon in October as a city to promote sports.

       Medalists from both the Olympics and Paralympics will attend the July ceremony, while exhibition matches will be held at the event so that people who missed out on the Games last year can experience the appeal of para sports, the Tokyo government said.

       Top marathon athletes will be invited to participate in the half marathon planned for Oct. 16, which is expected to have around 15,000 attendees, including people with and without disabilities.

       The capital will earmark 800 million yen ($6.9 million) to host the events in its initial budget for fiscal 2022.

       "I would like to use the events as a legacy (of the Games) to promote sports," Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike was quoted as saying.

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