Sep 12 (Kyodo) - The Japanese organizer of the World Cup sailing competition has been criticized for including a dolphin show in the opening ceremony of the event, which doubles as the first test competition for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games.
World Sailing, a governing body that seeks to protect marine cetaceans, said in a statement it was "disappointed" the organizing committee of the World Cup Series in Enoshima near Tokyo had the sea mammals jump during the ceremony held at an aquarium on Saturday.
The competition through next Sunday offers the first opportunity for the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee to check on its operations, and sailors to learn about the venue for the Olympics.
Some foreign competitors who took part in the ceremony raised questions about the dolphin show on social networking sites.
All content of the opening and closing ceremonies of World Sailing events must be approved in advance, the body said, adding no such approval was sought by the Japanese organizer of the competition.
