FUKUSHIMA -- Japan's national softball team practiced Tuesday morning at Fukushima Azuma Stadium, where the team will play Wednesday against Australia in the Tokyo Games' opening round.
The match also is the opening of the "Recovery Olympics," or the aspects of the Games that aim to encourage those affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and show their reconstruction efforts to the world.
Some other Olympic events will also start Wednesday, ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
Tuesday's practice by the softball team was open to the media for 30 minutes, and ace pitcher Yukiko Ueno and captain Eri Yamada were seen playing catch.
Fukushima Azuma Stadium, together with Miyagi Stadium for soccer, are the two Olympic venues in the Tohoku region.
Miyagi Stadium will accept entry of spectators. Japan's women's soccer team will play against Chile at the stadium on July 27.
On Wednesday, the women's Group F soccer match will be held at Miyagi Stadium.
A record 339 events among 33 sports will be held at 42 venues until Aug. 8.
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