Japan not giving up on figure skating Worlds

The International Skating Union has received an email from the Figure Skating Federation of Japan, saying that despite the destruction caused by the earthquake, the country is still eager to host the 2011 figure skating World Championship.

The letter says the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, which is to host the event, has not been destroyed and is ready to accept the athletes and spectators. The ISU postponed the World Championship in Japan, scheduled for March 21-27, following the devastating earthquake, which hit the country last Friday. According to information from various sources, the figure skating officials are now considering canceling the event, holding it in Tokyo in May or April or moving it to another country. Russia’s sports minister, Vitaly Mutko, has already filed a letter to the ISU saying Russia is ready to host the tournament.”I think this is a very nice gesture, to offer the ISU our friendly assistance. We didn’t get the response yet, but hopefully, the ISU president Ottavio Cinquanta will take our letter into consideration," Alexander Gorshkov, President of the Russian Figure Skating Federation, told RIA Novosti news agency.  Gorshkov also said that Moscow has all the necessary facilities to host the World Championship and organize it in a short period of time, but added that Russia will not be the only country applying for the event.