2020 Friendships & Solidarity - Tokyo Japan

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2020 Friendships & Solidarity - Tokyo Japan Nov 8, 2020 4:18:32 GMT

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Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2020 4:18:32 GMT

Tokyo will be the setting for the ‘Friendship and Solidarity Competition,’ featuring hosts Japan, plus Russia, China, and the United States.

Defending Olympic all-around champion Uchimura Kohei of Japan, 2019 World all-around champion Nikita Nagornyy and 2019 World all-around bronze medallist Angelina Melnikova, both of Russia, headline the roster.

The competition will feature two teams ('Team Friendship' and 'Team Solidarity') in a mixed-nation format.

Uchimura testing scare
Uchimura’s status in the event appeared in jeopardy when Watanabe announced on 29 October that the three-time Olympic gold medallist had tested positive for COVID-19.

"It is an extremely disappointing result but we will continue to observe the situation," said Watanabe at the time. “I know Uchimura was looking forward to this event so we want to go ahead with it however we can - for him, especially.”

But further observation resulted in Uchimura receiving three, consecutive negative tests and the go-ahead to compete. On the eve of the competition the Japanese star shared that he was "convinced" he didn't have the coronavirus, and praised the "thorough" testing procedures.

The event will be his first international outing since he helped his team in a limited capacity to team bronze at the 2018 World Championships in Doha.

Considered by many to be the greatest male gymnast of all time, the 31-year-old has struggled with injuries since defending his Olympic all-around title at Rio 2016. First, an ankle injury forced him out of competition at the 2017 World Championships. Then, shoulder and ankle issues in 2018 and 2019.

Uchimura remains focused on making his Olympic curtain call at home at Tokyo 2020, announcing earlier this year he’d focus on just the horizontal bar moving forward. He made a successful return to competition in September, finishing sixth on his now-specialty event after coming too close on a catch-and-release element and breaking form.

Russian best in attendance
The world’s two best men’s artistic gymnasts in Nagornyy and Dalaloyon highlight an impressive Russian roster. The duo dominated the sport internationally during the past two seasons: Dalaloyan is the 2018 World champ, Nagornyy took European and World titles handily in 2019 and together helped give Russia its first post-Soviet breakup World team title some 13 months ago in Stuttgart.

Neither has competed in the 2020 season after Russia withdrew Nagornyy from March’s American Cup, one of the last major international competitions before the global coronavirus pandemic.

“We will be able to take part in the competition without any worries. I hope that we will all be able to overcome the current situation, and it will change for the better,” Nagorny said ahead of the event, according to Tass.

As 2021 approaches, all eyes will be on Dalaloyan and Nagornyy who remain favourites to take all-around gold at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

On the women’s side, 2019 World all-around bronze medallist Melnikova is also set for her 2020 debut. The All Around star told Olympic Channel last month that despite two months away from the gym, she feels ready to compete.

“Currently, I am fully recovered. I recovered all my programs, I thought it would be harder. But it was rather easy... well, easy is a very relative term,” she said of her current fitness. “Right now everything is well, everything is the same.”

Elena Gerasimova, who won team and balance beam gold medals at last year’s junior world championships, will make her senior debut in Tokyo to round-off a strong Russian challenge.

Last Edit: Nov 8, 2020 22:12:11 GMT by Admin

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2020 Friendships & Solidarity - Tokyo Japan Nov 8, 2020 22:10:04 GMT

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Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2020 22:10:04 GMT

A perfect 10 - that was the review which poured in from gymnasts after the FIG Friendship and Solidarity competition in Tokyo on Sunday (8 November), the first international sporting event to be held in Japan amid the global pandemic.

And it was accompanied by a powerful message from the star of the winning team - Uchimura Kohei who, in a rare emotional plea, begged all of Japan to work together in making the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games a success in 2021.

“You could probably tell from the expression on our faces, but we had a great, great time”, the three-time Olympic champion said before a crowd of 2,094 at Yoyogi National Gymnasium, speaking on behalf of the athletes in a closing address. “I thought this was a huge success.

“Because of the pandemic, most of us couldn’t train or compete. It was nice not just to see each other again but to be able to share all the emotions”.

Unable to hold back, Japan's Uchimura - who also turned in a powerful performance with the top score in the horizontal bar with a mark of 15.200, which would have been good enough for a gold medal at the last two world championships - continued his outpour.

“I know it’s somewhat unavoidable with the virus but I read an article that said 80 per cent of the people in Japan don’t think the Olympics can be held, which I thought was disappointing”, said the two-time men's all around Olympic gold medallist, who had to brave a positive COVID-19 test scare in the lead-up to Sunday.

“But the question we should be asking ourselves is not whether we can hold the Games or not - but how, and all of us need to put our heads together to make sure that it does go ahead. I want people to start thinking differently."

“I say this, however, knowing full well that it will not be easy. If we athletes and the public aren’t on the same page, I don’t think it will happen.

“But I’m certain there is a way to make it happen, and I ask everyone to stop thinking that it can’t happen”.

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2020 Friendships & Solidarity - Tokyo Japan Nov 9, 2020 5:17:54 GMT

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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2020 5:17:54 GMT

Testing, testing
Organisers put in place a range of measures to ensure the 30 participating athletes stayed safe for the four-way mixed team competition featuring the United States, Russia, China, and Japan.

Each athlete was PCR tested every morning and each team occupied one entire floor of a hotel.

Athletes’ movement was kept to the bare minimum, being solely restricted to the hotel and competition venue.

Even inside the hotel, they had routes to strictly follow and use 24-hour attendants to cater to any and all personal needs such as finding a beverage.

While some athletes felt stifled because they were not allowed out, everyone understood why the coronavirus countermeasures were in place.

“It’s almost like a mini-Olympics for us”, said the United States’ Yul Moldauer. "It shows Tokyo is a great place to host the Games.

“For me I didn’t have a problem doing any of the procedures. I was actually really happy they were taking everything so seriously because it comes down to safety”.

Added Moldauer’s USA compatriot Shilese Jones, “Honestly, I think it helped me a little bit because it kind of kept my mind in a zone.

“Just keeping your mind focused on what needs to be done is the best thing for me”.

Last Edit: Nov 9, 2020 21:00:34 GMT by Admin

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2020 Friendships & Solidarity - Tokyo Japan Nov 9, 2020 21:02:46 GMT

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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2020 21:02:46 GMT

Victory for Kohei and Solidarity
The meet was won by the Solidarity team including Uchimura and reigning world all-around champion Nikita Nagornyy. They outscored team Friendship 423.600 to 421.300.

The result though was a sideshow to the fact that the event went ahead, with a crowd in attendance, under intense scrutiny at an actual Olympic venue against the backdrop of COVID-19.

Spectators were distanced and carefully shepherded in and out of the iconic arena, built for Tokyo’s last Olympic Games in 1964, on top of the mask and temperature checks as well as hand sanitizing.

While fans were asked to stay in their seats and not to raise their voice, there seemed to be genuine joy and appreciation for sport again in the air throughout the three-hour event.

In a video message aired during the opening ceremony, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach stated the importance of staging Sunday’s competition.

“In these difficult times, we need the Olympic values of excellence, respect and especially friendship and solidarity, more than ever”, Bach said. “This is why the Friendship and Solidarity competition comes at a perfect time."