in Nevada, USA. In 1998 Blue Impulse performed at the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Blue Impulse also performed at the 2002 FIFA World Cup; on 4 June 2002, they performed at the opening of the Japan versus Belgium match. On March 11, 2011, Matsushima Air Base, where Blue Impulse had been based, sustained heavy damage from the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Because on the day before, the aircraft and crew had travelled to Ashiya Air Base in Fukuoka to perform at the opening ceremony of the Kyushu Shinkansen, the team escaped damage from the disaster. While the crew continued to be based in Matsushima to aid in recovery efforts, they were required to travel to other bases for flight training while Matsushima underwent repairs. On March 30, 2013, the Blue Impulse fully returned to Matsushima Air Base following the completion of repairs and anti-tsunami measures. Aircraft Accidents and incidents ''Data from: 21 July 1961F-86F-40 Sabre, 02-7976, crashed during aerobatic training into the sea, near Cape Irago, Tahara, Aichi. The pilot, Major Katou Matsuo, was killed. 24 November 1965F-86F-40 Sabre, 02-7975, aerodynamically stalled and crashed near the west end of the runway at Matsushima Air Base during aerobatic training. First Lieutenant Joumaru was killed in the crash. 4 November 1972F-86F-40 Sabre, 72-7773, crashed at or near the Iruma River, whilst returning to base after a demonstration flight. First Lieutenant Kaneko ejected safely at . 14 November 1982T-2B Blue Impulse #4, 19-5174, crashed during a down-ward bomb-burst manoeuvre at a Hamamatsu air display, having failed to pull up in time and crashed into a residential building near the airfield. The pilot was killed, as were 10 people on the ground, with another 13 injuries, as well as damaging 28 civilian houses and about 290 cars. This accident brought performances a halt for the remainder of the year. 4 July 1991Over the Pacific Ocean, T-2A, 59-5112 and T-2B,19-5172, (#2 and #4), collided during a training flight after flying into sea fog near Mount Kinka, Miyagi Prefecture, causing suspension of demonstration flights for a year. Captain Hamaguchi Seiji and Captain Shikichi Yutaka were both killed. 4 July 2000Aircraft #5 and #6 collided about East of Matsushima Air Base, claiming the lives of three team members. 20 March 2002 A T-4 suffered a bird strike. 14 October 2006T-4 #5 suffered a bird strike at Gifu AB during training for an airshow but landed safely.