The Arirang Mass Games, a yearly spectacle in which thousands of gymnasts perform at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, will not be held this year.

The Beijing-based Koryo Tours publicized the news on Thursday after receiving information about the usually annual event from their partners in Pyongyang.

“Although disappointing this is not wholly unexpected as while they have been staged every year since 2007, the Mass Games are not a guaranteed annual event – and 2014 is not a year with any major anniversaries for the DPRK,” a statement published on the Koryo Tours website read.[/p