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Japan abandons plans to stage world championships

Japan has abandoned plans to host the figure skating world championships as it struggles with the aftermath of this month's deadly earthquake, the International Skating Union (ISU) said on Monday.

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Japan has abandoned plans to host the figure skating world championships as it struggles with the aftermath of this month's deadly earthquake, the International Skating Union (ISU) said on Monday.

The event, scheduled to take place in Tokyo this week, had already been postponed with the country hoping it might be able to hold it at a later date but the sport's governing body has now started looking for alternative venues.

"After having explored all possible options to maintain the 2011 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Japan, the JSF (Japanese Skating Federation) has now informed the ISU that regretfully and reluctantly they must decline hosting the Championships in Japan," the ISU said in a statement.

The March 11 earthquake and tsunami left more than 21,000 people dead or missing and triggered a nuclear crisis by damaging a power plant 240 km north of Tokyo.

The ISU sent a letter to its members seeking applications from countries prepared to take over the championships, saying it was hoping to rearrange them for April or May.

Proposals need to be received by Tuesday and the ISU said it expected to take a decision a few days after this.

Other sporting events to have been cancelled or postponed because of the earthquake include the national swimming championships, the Japanese round of the MotoGP championship and international friendly soccer games.

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