ID :
159114
Mon, 02/07/2011 - 09:06
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/159114
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Japanese Sumo Tournament Canceled over Match-Fixing
Tokyo (Jiji Press)- The Japan Sumo Association's board made a formal decision Sunday to cancel next month's tournament due to a match-fixing scandal, a severe blow to the country's already struggling national sport.
A grand tournament, held six times a year, was last canceled in the summer of 1946, when the sport's main stadium in Tokyo was being renovated following war damage. It is the first time ever that a tournament was canceled due to a scandal.
"The darkest chapter was marked in the history of sumo," association chief Hanaregoma said at a news conference.
Sumo matches cannot be held in public unless everything is cleaned up, he said.
The association apparently concluded that it is not able to win public understanding if the tournament is held as scheduled while an investigation into the match-fixing scandal continues, sources familiar with the matter said.
The 15-day tournament was scheduled to start in Osaka, western Japan, on March 13.
The association's decision will deal a severe financial blow to the sport because grand tournaments are a key source of revenue. The cancellation is expected to cost the association over one billion yen in lost revenue.
In addition, the scandal is likely to alienate fans further.
The association also decided to call off regional tours this year.
The scandal came to light last week when reports said police found e-mails in wrestlers' mobile phones that indicated their involvement in fixing matches.
Two wrestlers and one stablemaster have admitted to involvement in match-fixing.
A committee of outside experts appointed by the association is still continuing its probe into 14 wrestlers and elders whose names were listed in the e-mails, including the three who have admitted their involvement.
The committee is expected to take about two months to complete the investigation that also covers others than the 14 wrestlers and elders.
The sport has already been struggling to restore its image after an illegal betting scandal involving wrestlers prompted public broadcaster Japan Broadcasting Corp. canceled live television broadcasts of a tournament last year.
A grand tournament, held six times a year, was last canceled in the summer of 1946, when the sport's main stadium in Tokyo was being renovated following war damage. It is the first time ever that a tournament was canceled due to a scandal.
"The darkest chapter was marked in the history of sumo," association chief Hanaregoma said at a news conference.
Sumo matches cannot be held in public unless everything is cleaned up, he said.
The association apparently concluded that it is not able to win public understanding if the tournament is held as scheduled while an investigation into the match-fixing scandal continues, sources familiar with the matter said.
The 15-day tournament was scheduled to start in Osaka, western Japan, on March 13.
The association's decision will deal a severe financial blow to the sport because grand tournaments are a key source of revenue. The cancellation is expected to cost the association over one billion yen in lost revenue.
In addition, the scandal is likely to alienate fans further.
The association also decided to call off regional tours this year.
The scandal came to light last week when reports said police found e-mails in wrestlers' mobile phones that indicated their involvement in fixing matches.
Two wrestlers and one stablemaster have admitted to involvement in match-fixing.
A committee of outside experts appointed by the association is still continuing its probe into 14 wrestlers and elders whose names were listed in the e-mails, including the three who have admitted their involvement.
The committee is expected to take about two months to complete the investigation that also covers others than the 14 wrestlers and elders.
The sport has already been struggling to restore its image after an illegal betting scandal involving wrestlers prompted public broadcaster Japan Broadcasting Corp. canceled live television broadcasts of a tournament last year.
