The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) ruled at its Council meeting in San Jose that there was no reason to move the event, the main qualifier for next year's Olympics in London, and which iis scheduled to take place at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium between October 7 and 16. 

The world governing body had earlier expressed concern about high radiation levels outside Fukushima, about 150 miles north of Tokyo, following the earthquake on March 11.

But Japanese organisers have assured FIG officials that safety will not be an issue.

The decision was expected after FIG's Executive Committee had voted on Friday (May 20) not to step in and move the World Championships despite pressure to relocate it to Moscow, just as the International Skating Union had done when moving their World Championships from Tokyo to the Russian capital following the disaster.

FIG President Bruno Grandi claimed that they havd given "utmost consideration to the health of its gymnasts and delegations travelling to Tokyo".

"The decision to maintain the Tokyo venue is founded on an evaluation of the current situation conducted by competent professionals in the field, and their subsequent conclusions," he said following the decision.

Hidenori Futagi, the President of the Japanes Gymnastics Association, who attended the meeting in California alongside Tokyo 2011 Organising Committee President Morinari Watanabe, applauded the decision.

He called it "a moving gesture of solidarity and encouragement for the Japanese people as a whole; a decision worthy of the international Gymnastics family."

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