So says Wolfgang Willam, sports director of the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB) on this post via Google Translate:
Despite the reactor disaster in Fukushima find the gymnastics world championships as scheduled on 8 to 16 October in Tokyo. The surprise decision, the Executive Committee of the World Gymnastics Federation FIG in San Jose.
Originally, only the FIG-Council make in the next two days of the decision. “Due to the present facts and scientific expertise, the Executive Committee saw no reason to cancel the award to Tokyo,” said Wolfgang Willam …
I’m surprised too. Germany just some weeks ago pulled out of the Japan Cup. (German)
This is quite the controversial result. The easy way out would have been to move to Moscow.
Leave a comment if you hear otherwise from the meetings in San Jose.
Reporter @nrarmour says FIG will make a decision. @intlgymnast says it’s a done deal. We’re headed for Tokyo.
Personally, I’m happy to see it stay in Japan.
(via The All Around Gymnastics News on Facebook)
9 comments ↓
Does this mean The Us and Russia and other European countries won’t qualify to the Olympics? This could be the worst disaster to happen since Carter ruined the 1980 one. I can barely breathe I’m so scared!! Not to mention if we do go I’m not convinced it’s entirely safe…I can’t believe this is happening.
Calm down. Take a deep breath. Everything will work out.
The site will be clean and they will go to the meet and it will all be fine. Sheesh.
It’s fine. The news about Germany withdrawing from the Japan Cup is several weeks old, it just getting recycled now.
If Worlds IS moved, I lay odds of far better than even money they will NOT go to Moscow.
1) Moscow already got the figure skating Worlds planned for Tokyo (which was the right decision at the time)
and
2) There has been some bad feeling generated by what the Japanese feel has been Russian propaganda (read enlightened self interest) about the safety of Tokyo in an effort to obtain the important pre Olympic Worlds.
Grandi likes these oddball countries, and the Middle East has never hosted one of these events, so those still hoping for a move away from Tokyo may find themselves in Doha…
Triathlon and Swimming are holding major events around the time of the Tokyo Worlds.
Everybody needs to hope Japan continues to stay safe enough that Worlds may be held there – not only for the gymnasts, but for the people of Japan.
Tokyo is safe. Millions of people are living there right now.
There are big wigs from China, Japan, and the USA holding a financial meeting/summit in Tokyo the 21st-22nd, so unless the world ends I think the city is safe.
I suspect that Moscow pushing against Tokyo was just the old Russian/Soviet bear trying to bully the smaller federations into not going so they could once again have Worlds. If they are so great at holding events why can’t they win a competitive bid for once?!?!?!?! Geesh.
And the link posted about the Germans withdrawing from the Japan Cup also has a quote from Hambuchen’s own father stating that Fabian thought it was safe to visit Tokyo.
Seriously, who WOULDN’T risk glowing in the dark for a chance to see Kohei Uchimura kick butt in his own country – that will be a LOT more special if it happens now considering the tragedy the Japanese people have been through.
Hooray! I already had my tickets booked to Japan.
With Olympic qualification on the line, I doubt any of the major nations will miss that meet.
The media is sensationalising the ‘danger’ of Tokyo… Just jump to blogs/twitter for the commentary of people who are actually living there to see the real story.
I’m heading to Japan in August and I considered changing plans when there were travel bans/warnings but now the warnings from our government are at the same level at heading to Turkey or even the UK. Also there was just a world athletics meet over there. If its ok now to host an event like this, by October there shouldn’t be any problems!
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