Tokyo hosts trial gymnastics event
Gymnasts from four nations tumbled, leaped and spun through a friendly meet in Tokyo on Sunday in a closely watched event aimed at showing the world Japan can safely carry out the postponed 2020 Olympics in an era of coronavirus. Thirty gymnasts from Japan, the United States, China and Russia, including Japan's triple Olympic gold medallist Kohei Uchimura and Russia's 2019 world champion Nikita Nagornyy, took part in the first international event at a Tokyo Olympic venue since the Games' postponement in March due to COVID-19. The one-off friendly event was seen as a crucial trial run for having international athletes travel to and compete in Japan during the Olympics next July. An opening message from International Olympic Committee head Thomas Bach highlighted the stakes for the meet, which seemed briefly threatened last week when Uchimura had what turned out to be a false positive virus test. Lauding the “Olympic values” of friendship and solidarity — the names of teams into which the athletes were divided regardless of country or gender — Bach said the meet played a crucial role. “You are also setting an example that sport can be organized safely even under ongoing health restrictions,” he said in a video message. Uchimura, whose Solidarity team edged Friendship to win, said the meet went beyond sport. “We must also be athletes who give you hope and dreams,” Uchimura said. Gymnasts, tested daily for the virus, wore masks as they marched into the gymnasium and there were fist bumps of congratulations instead of hugs or high fives. The 2,000-some spectators had temperature checks and were misted with disinfectant on entrance.