Games of the XXX Olympiad
London (GBR), July 27 – August 12, 2012

Olympic qualifications

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, May 28, 2010: The FIG recently approved a second qualifying event for the Olympic Games. Artistic, Rhythmic and Trampoline gymnasts will get a chance to qualify as usual, at a world championship event the year preceding the Olympic Games, which in this case means Tokyo (JPN), Montpellier (FRA) and Birmingham (GBR), as well as at the Olympic test events from January 10 – 18, 2012.

This decision was hailed by the international gymnastics community. It is worth recalling the frustration felt by the Slovenian and Dutch federations in 2007, particularly of Yuri van Gelder and Aljaz Pegan, who were denied a ticket to the Games of Beijing (CHN) despite finalist status in Stuttgart (GER). The new system will bring a substantially greater sense of justice to the attribution of the FIG’s 396 IOC-allocated Olympic places.

Still, a few landmark events mark the road to London, and the high road to Mount Olympus is often a narrow one; ad augusta per angusta!

Artistic

Olympic qualification for Teams really begins in 2010, since only the top 24 six-gymnast Teams from the Worlds in Rotterdam (NED) will continue on toward London 2012. For all other teams, it’ll be an early end to an Olympic dream!

Thus in October 2011, these 24 Men’s and Women’s Teams will gear up for a fight at Tokyo’s Metropolitan Gymnasium (JPN). The event will qualify the best eight 5-gymnast teams, a total of 40 male and female gymnasts. Individual medallists in the Apparatus Finals will also qualify in Tokyo.

In January 2012, a second qualifying round will determine who will get the remaining places at the North Greenwich Arena Olympic venue: Teams in ranks 9 – 16 from the 2011 Worlds. Of these 8, a mere 4 will qualify for the London Olympics; a grand total of 12 teams.
Keep in mind that this pre-Olympic event will be the only qualifying competition for Individual gymnasts, with the exception of Tokyo medallists.

The Artistic quota is 98 male and female gymnasts, keeping in mind the criteria and quota set by the IOC, host country rights, universality and an ultimate green light by the Tripartite Commission, made up of the IOC, the NOCs and the FIG.

Rhythmic

The 2011 Worlds in Montpellier (FRA) will set the groundwork for the first qualifying phase. The top 15 Individual gymnasts from the All-around competition (2 per federation) will qualify. The 5 remaining places will be allocated in January 2012 at the Olympic test events.

For Groups, gymnasts will need to place among the top 24 at the 2010 Worlds in Moscow (RUS) if they hope to participate in the 2011 qualifying event in Montpellier. Of the 24-Group quota, a mere 6 will qualify for the Games. 4 Groups will qualify in January 2012.

A grand total of 84 gymnasts, 24 Individual, will be a part of the Rhythmic quota, taking into consideration the criteria and quota set by the IOC, host country rights, universality and an ultimate green light by the Tripartite Commission, made up of the IOC, the NOCs and the FIG.

Trampoline

The 2012 London Olympic Games are open to 16 male and female gymnasts. Qualification in Birmingham (GBR) 2011 will designate the top 8 qualified. In January, the Olympic test events will provide access for an additional 5 athletes, and 3 places will be allocated in accordance with IOC regulations.