Gymnasts in Tokyo show how Olympics can pass coronavirus challenges

Sophia Butler of the U.S. performs on the floor at Friendship and Solidarity Competition, the first international event at a Tokyo Olympic venue since the Games were postponed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in Tokyo, Japan November 8, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

TOKYO (Reuters) - Gymnasts from four nations tumbled, leapt 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 the COVID-19 pandemic.