Gymnastics worlds to stay in Tokyo

SAN JOSE, California — The world gymnastics championships will be hosted by Tokyo this October as originally planned, despite earlier concerns about high radiation levels following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the International Gymnastics Federation said Sunday.

The FIG found no scientific basis to call off the Oct. 7-16 event at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, which acts as the main qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics.

FIG president Bruno Grandi said the federation made the decision after consulting with experts who said it would be safe to go ahead as scheduled with the worlds.

"I am relieved. The FIG executive committee was not moved by sentiment and made a composed decision," said Japan Gymnastics Association president Hidenori Futagi.

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Gymnastics worlds still set for Tokyo

San Jose California — The world gymnastics championships appear to be on track for Tokyo this fall.

The International Gymnastics Federation's Executive Committee decided Friday not to step in and move the worlds, the main qualifier for the 2012 Olympics in London. Instead, the final decision will come this weekend from the FIG Council, which originally awarded these world championships to Tokyo four years ago.

Worlds are scheduled for Oct. 7-16 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Figure skating moved its world championships out of Tokyo after the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan in March, and the FIG had expressed concern about high radiation levels outside Fukushima, about 240 km outside of Tokyo. But organizers assured gymnastics officials that safety won't be a concern, and the executive committee decided there was no reason to overturn the council's original decision.

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