Athletes stand at attention during the opening ceremony of the Friendship and Solidarity Competition, a gymnastics friendly tournament, in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov 8, 2020. (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

TOKYO - Gymnasts from four nations tumbled, leapt and spun their way 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.

The one-off friendly event is seen as a crucial trial run for having international athletes travel to and compete in Japan safely during Olympics next year, which will bring more than 11,000 athletes to Tokyo

Thirty gymnasts from Japan, the United States, China and Russia, including triple Olympic gold medallist Kohei Uchimura of Japan and 2019 World Champion Nikita Nagornyy from Russia, are taking part in the first international event at a Tokyo Olympic venue since the Games were postponed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The one-off friendly event is seen as a crucial trial run for having international athletes travel to and compete in Japan safely during the Olympics, which will bring more than 11,000 athletes to Tokyo. A few international matches have been held in some sports recently, but they remain rare.

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Kohei Uchimura of Japan competes on the horizontal bar during the Friendship and Solidarity Competition gymnastics event in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov 8, 2020. (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

An opening message from International Olympic Committee (IOC) head Thomas Bach highlighted the stakes for the meet.

Lauding the "Olympic values" of friendship and solidarity - the names of teams into which the athletes were divided regardless of country or gender - Bach said the meet played a crucial role.

"You are also setting an example that sport can be organized safely even under ongoing health restrictions," he said in a video message.

"...Giving us confidence in our preparation for future events, in particular of course with an eye to the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games."

eMjae Frazier of the United States competes in a balance beam event during the Friendship and Solidarity Competition gymnastics event in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov 8, 2020. (HIRO KOMAE / AP)

Organizers of the meet, which seemed briefly threatened last week when Uchimura had what turned out to be a false positive virus test, are keenly aware their efforts are being closely watched by Olympics organizers. 

Further tests later cleared Uchimura, and he said in an online news conference on Saturday that it had been a good experience.

“How regular can we make the irregular?” he said. “I think this is a good experience and really important for the Olympics.”

Spectators at the venue, designed by Kenzo Tange for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, clapped enthusiastically but didn't cheer, mindful of posted rules against it - except when Uchimura, who hadn't competed internationally for two years due to injury, completed an electrifying horizontal bar routine.

Several athletes, including Uchimura, said it was "just plain fun" to get to a meet after a such a long gap.

Judging members watch Alexandra Shchekoldina of Russia perform in a floor exercise event during the Friendship and Solidarity Competition gymnastics event in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov 8, 2020. (HIRO KOMAE / AP)

Uchimura, whose "Solidarity" team edged "Friendship" to win, said the meet went beyond sport. Symbolically, athletes from each team awarded each other medals.

"It's important to work towards the Olympics next year, but we must also be athletes who give you hope and dreams," Uchimura said.

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Gymnasts, tested daily for the virus, all wore masks as they marched into the gymnasium behind national flags, and there were fist bumps of congratulations instead of hugs or high fives. Coaches were masked at all times.

A view of the competition area at the Friendship and Solidarity Competition, a gymnastics friendly tournament, in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov 8, 2020. (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

The 2,000-some spectators had temperature checks and occupied every other seat. All were misted with disinfectant on entrance.

“This is a good chance for Japan to promote to the International Olympic Committee that it can do this kind of thing safely,” said Hirotaka Matsuoka, a sports marketing professor at Waseda University.

Japan remains less hard-hit by COVID-19 than many other large countries, with Tokyo on Saturday marking 294 new cases. Just under 2,000 have died.