Rhythmic gymnastics at the World Games are facing an air conditioning crisis.
The ribbon event in Cali, Colombia, was canceled Thursday because the temperature inside El Pueblo Coliseum was too high, according to the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).
The air conditioning currents, though unable to bring the temperature down enough, still affected the gymnasts and the “handling of the ribbon” to a point that made competing “impossible.”
“I am very disappointed with the situation at El Pueblo Coliseum and I deeply regret to take this decision, but under the present circumstances, we cannot run a competition on ribbon here,” said FIG Secretary General André Gueisbuhler, who inspected the venue twice Thursday, according to FIG.
It’s confusing how this problem could be solved. To bring down the temperature, presumably, the air conditioning power must be increased. Relaxing the air conditioning currents so as not to affect the ribbon in the air would, presumably, increase the temperature.
Cali had a high of 90 degrees Thursday, according to Weather.com. The FIG report did not state how hot it was in the arena.
Further meetings were scheduled for Thursday to determine the status of the rest of the gymnastics competitions at the World Games.
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