The International Skating Union on Friday named Saitama as host city for the 2023 world figure skating championships.

The Japan Skating Federation was up against Budapest and Minsk in its bid to host the event at Saitama Super Arena north of Tokyo in March 2023.

The Japan Open figure skating competition is held at Saitama Super Arena near Tokyo on Oct. 3, 2020, with the number of spectators limited amid continuing worries over the novel coronavirus. (Pool photo) (Kyodo)

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It will be the eighth time the tournament will take place in Japan and the first since 2019, when it was also held at Saitama Super Arena.

The ISU also said the coronavirus pandemic had prompted it to cancel the 2021 Four Continents Championships for figure skating, short track and long track speed skating.