Japan Bobsleigh Team Misses Olympics after Rule Mix-Up

Tokyo, Jan. 13 (Jiji Press)--The Japan Bobsleigh, Luge and Skeleton Federation said Tuesday that Japan's two-man bobsleigh team will not be able to participate in the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics next month due to the federation's misunderstanding of the qualification system.

In 2024, the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation changed its qualification rules, requiring countries to earn points in four-man events in specific international competitions for two-man teams to qualify for the Olympics.

Japan did not send athletes to the four-man qualification events.

The Japanese federation did not send representatives to a 2024 meeting of the international body and also overlooked the email notifying Japan of the rule change.

"We deeply apologize to the athletes and other people concerned who participated in travel plans that did not meet the preconditions," a Japanese federation official said.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]