FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup
Tokyo (JPN), April 14 - 15, 2012

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, February 2, 2012: Due to a conflict in scheduling, Japanese organisers for the FIG World Cup stage in Artistic Gymnastics, slated for April 14 - 15, 2012 in Tokyo, were forced to cancel the event.
 
The decision comes in response to an inability to coordinate major dates for gymnasts on the sport calendar with availability of the host broadcaster for production. A lack of television coverage would have a negative impact on announcer participation and bring about weighty financial consequences.
 
The FIG takes note of the decision and of the Japan Gymnastics Association's ongoing commitment to setting new dates for the 2013 World Cup.

FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup
2012 AT&T American Cup
New York City (USA), March 3, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS (USA) – LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, February 1, 2012: The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has conducted the drawing of lots for the 2012 AT&T American Cup, an FIG World Cup event, which is scheduled for March 3 inside New York City’s legendary Madison Square Garden. 

World parallel bars champion, Danell Leyva of Homestead, Fla./Team Hilton HHonors (Universal Gymnastics) will start off the competition on the floor exercise for Team USA in the second position, while teammate John Orozco of the Bronx, N.Y./U.S. Olympic Training Center, fifth place in the all-around at the 2011 World Championships, will follow Leyva in the third spot.  Two-time World Championships all-around silver medalist Philipp Boy of Germany drew sixth position for the competitive order.

For the women, the reigning World, U.S. and AT&T American Cup all-around champion, Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich./Gedderts’ Twistars USA, will compete sixth up on the vault.  Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan’s American Gymnastics, the World floor bronze medalist, is scheduled to compete in the eighth spot.  World all-around finalist, Germany’s Nadine Jarosch, will compete second.

The complete draw order, which drops one athlete per rotation, is as follows:

Men

1. Marcel Nguyen - Germany
2. Danell Leyva - USA
3. John Orozco - USA
4. Cyril Tommasone - France
5. Daniel Purvis - Great Britain
6. Philipp Boy - Germany
7. Mykola Kuksenkov - Ukraine
8. Oleg Verniaiev - Ukraine

Women

1. Rebecca Tunney - Great Britain
2. Nadine Jarosch - Germany
3. Georgia Simpson - Australia
4. Diana Chelaru - Romania
5. Larisa Iordache - Romania
6. Jordyn Wieber - USA
7. Lisa Hill - Germany
8. Alexandra Raisman - USA 

Gymnastics greats Nadia Comaneci, Bart Conner, Tracee Talavera, Mary Lou Retton, Peter Vidmar, Carly Patterson, Jason Gatson, Nastia Liukin and Paul Hamm won American Cup titles in Madison Square Garden months before earning a combined 30 Olympic medals, including 13 gold. The AT&T American Cup is the first of four artistic gymnastics all-around World Cups in 2012. The next stopovers are scheduled for April 14-15 in Tokyo, Japan; Dec. 1-2 in Stuttgart, Germany; and Dec. 8 in Glasgow, Scotland.

The AT&T American Cup has been staged 11 times at Madison Square Garden and this is the sixth time New York has hosted the event in an Olympic year. Madison Square Garden was the site of the inaugural American Cup in 1976 when the USA's Bart Conner and Romania's Nadia Comaneci won the all-around titles. Madison Square Garden played host to this event in 1976-80, 1982-84, 2004 and 2008.

The USA swept the titles at the 2011 AT&T American Cup –Wieber won the women's title (her second), and Jonathan Horton of Houston/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress Gymnastics), won the men's competition to bring his total American Cup titles to three.

Past sites for the American Cup include: New York City (1976-80, 1982-84, 2004, 2008); Ft. Worth Texas (1981, 1996-98); Indianapolis, Ind. (1985); Fairfax, Va. (1986-90, 2003); Orlando, Fla. (1991-94, 2000-02); Seattle, Wash. (1995); St. Petersburg, Fla. (1999); Uniondale, N.Y. (2005); Philadelphia (2006); Jacksonville, Fla. (2007, 2011); Hoffman Estates, Ill. (2009); and Worcester, Mass. (2010).

For more information, go to www.attamericancup.com.

(source: USA Gymnastics)

12th Junior Artistic and Trampoline Gymnastics Asian Championships
Suphanburi (THA), March 11 – 15, 2012

DOHA (QAT) – LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, January 30, 2012: Strong participation is expected at the 12th Junior Artistic and Trampoline Gymnastics Asian Championships in Thailand’s Suphanburi Province, March 11-15, 2012.

Eighteen countries have confirmed their participation in the event, yielding an unexpected total of 348 participants and forcing organisers at the Thailand Gymnastic Association to change the location of both the competition hall and the hotel. Suphanburi Sports School and Songphanburi Hotel have been chosen to host the delegations.

Such a large number of participants is proof of a growing Asian interest in promoting Gymnastics and of a confidence in the Asian Gymnastics Union, which defied all odds and continues to raise the level of Gymnastics across Asia.

Participating countries:

18 countries for Men’s Artistic Gymnastics: Iran – Iraq – Kuwait – Uzbekistan – Korea – Japan – Singapore – Qatar – Vietnam – China – Chinese Taipei – Kazakhstan – Jordan - Sri Lanka – Malaysia – India – Hong Kong, China and Thailand.

15 countries for Women’s Artistic Gymnastics: Iraq – Uzbekistan – Korea – Japan – Singapore – Qatar – Vietnam – Chinese Taipei – Kazakhstan – Jordan - Sri Lanka – Malaysia – India – Hong Kong, China and Thailand.

8 countries for Individual Men’s Trampoline: Iran – Uzbekistan – Korea – Japan – Qatar – Vietnam – China – Kazakhstan.

5 countries for Individual Women’s Trampoline: Japan – Qatar – Vietnam – China – Kazakhstan.

The Artistic Gymnastics tournament consists of a qualifying round, a Team competition, Individual All-Around, and Apparatus Finals, each for men and women; while male and female Trampoline gymnasts will compete in Individual Qualifications and Finals.

February 8, 2012 marks the deadline for nominative entries.

Find the invitation and directives here!

(Source: Asian Gymnastics Union)

FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup
2012 AT&T American Cup
New York City (USA), March 3, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS (USA) – LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, January 25, 2012: 2011 World parallel bars gold-medalist Danell Leyva of Homestead, Fla./Team Hilton HHonors (Universal Gymnastics), has accepted an invitation to compete in the 2012 AT&T American Cup, an International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) World Cup event, March 3 at New York City’s legendary Madison Square Garden, along with 2011 World all-around silver-medalist Philipp Boy of Germany, and World all-around finalists Daniel Purvis of Great Britain, Cyril Tommasone of France and Nadine Jarosch of Germany.  They join the previously announced Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich./Gedderts’ Twistars USA, the 2011 World all-around champion, Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan’s American Gymnastics, 2011 World team gold medalist, and John Orozco of the Bronx, N.Y./U.S. Olympic Training Center, who finished fifth in the World all-around finals, in the field for this prestigious event. 

"There’s no better way to start off the Olympic year than by having an impressive field for the AT&T American Cup at Madison Square Garden,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "This event will truly showcase outstanding athletic performances, and highlight some of the key athletes to watch heading into the London Olympics later this year.”

The 2012 AT&T American Cup field includes six World medalists and two former Olympians. The gymnasts expected to compete in New York City are:

Men
USA: Danell Leyva, Miami/Team Hilton HHonors
USA: John Orozco, Bronx, N.Y./U.S. Olympic Training Center
France: Cyril Tommasone
Germany: Philipp Boy
Germany: Marcel Nguyen
Great Britain: Daniel Purvis
Ukraine: Mykola Kuksenkov
One additional male athlete will be named to replace a withdrawal due to injury.

Women
USA: Aly Raisman, Needham, Mass./Brestyan’s Gymnastics
USA: Jordyn Wieber, DeWitt, Mich./Gedderts’ Twistars USA
Australia: Georgia Simpson
Germany: Lisa Hill
Germany: Nadine Jarosch
Great Britain: Rebecca Tunney
Romania: Diana Chelaru
Romania: Larisa Iordache

For the men, the USA brings a strong duo with Leyva, the reigning U.S. all-around and World parallel bars champion, and Orozco, who had a breakout year in 2011 after finishing fifth in the all-around at the World Championships and third at the Visa Championships.

Boy comes to New York as the reigning European all-around champion and a two-time World Championships all-around silver medalist (2010-11). Purvis, fourth in the all-around at the 2011 Worlds, recently recorded the highest all-around score at the 2012 Visa International Gymnastics (the Olympic test event) at the North Greenwich Arena, the gymnastics venue at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Kuksenkov, Nguyen and Tommasone, the 2011 World pommel horse silver medalist, finished seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively, in the all-around at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo. 

On the women’s side, Wieber is the reigning World, U.S. and AT&T American Cup all-around champion. She and teammate Raisman helped the USA win the team title at the 2011 World Championships. Raisman, fourth in the 2011 World Championships all-around final, also won the bronze medal at the 2011 AT&T American Cup, as well as the World floor exercise bronze medal.

Jarosch finished 10th in the all-around at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo, and teammate Hill was a member of the German team at both the 2010 and 2011 World Championships, finishing 46th in the all-around during qualifications in 2011.  Tunney, a newcomer to the British squad, is the reigning English junior all-around champion and finished sixth on the uneven bars at the 2012 Visa International Gymnastics event.  At the 2011 World Championships, Chelaru was a member of Romania’s fourth-place team and finished eighth in the floor finals, while teammate Iordache, the 2011 European Youth Olympic Festival all-around champion, is a first-year senior competitor.  Simpson, who competed in the all-around at the 2012 Visa International Gymnastics event, served as Australia’s World team alternate in 2010.  

Six gymnasts have previously participated in the American Cup: Boy, Kuksenkov, Purvis, Raisman, Tommasone and Wieber.

Gymnastics greats Nadia Comaneci, Bart Conner, Tracee Talavera, Mary Lou Retton, Peter Vidmar, Carly Patterson, Jason Gatson, Nastia Liukin and Paul Hamm won American Cup titles in Madison Square Garden months before earning a combined 30 Olympic medals, including 13 gold.

The AT&T American Cup is the first of four artistic gymnastics all-around World Cups in 2012. The next stopovers are scheduled for April 14-15 in Tokyo, Japan; Dec. 1-2 in Stuttgart, Germany; and Dec. 8 in Glasgow, Scotland.

The AT&T American Cup has been staged 11 times at Madison Square Garden and this is the sixth time New York has hosted the event in an Olympic year. Madison Square Garden was the site of the inaugural American Cup in 1976 when the USA's Bart Conner and Romania's Nadia Comaneci won the all-around titles. Madison Square Garden played host to this event in 1976-80, 1982-84, 2004 and 2008.

The USA swept the titles at the 2011 AT&T American Cup –Wieber won the women's title (her second), and Jonathan Horton of Houston/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress Gymnastics), won the men's competition to bring his total American Cup titles to three.

Past sites for the American Cup include: New York City (1976-80, 1982-84, 2004, 2008); Ft. Worth Texas (1981, 1996-98); Indianapolis, Ind. (1985); Fairfax, Va. (1986-90, 2003); Orlando, Fla. (1991-94, 2000-02); Seattle, Wash. (1995); St. Petersburg, Fla. (1999); Uniondale, N.Y. (2005); Philadelphia (2006); Jacksonville, Fla. (2007, 2011); Hoffman Estates, Ill. (2009); and Worcester, Mass. (2010).

(source: USA Gymnastics)
 

11th African Championships in Artistic Gymnastics
Tunis (TUN), April 11 – 14, 2012

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, January 24, 2012: The 11th African Championships for Juniors and Seniors in Artistic Gymnastics are scheduled for April 11 – 14, 2012, in Tunis (TUN). Hosted by the Tunisian Gymnastics Federation (FTN), competitions will be staged at the El Menzah Sport Palace in the north of the Tunisian capital, with the Cité des Jeunes Gymnastics hall set aside for training.

At deadline of provisional registration some 118 gymnasts from eight different countries, namely Algeria, Congo, Egypt, Morocco, Namibia, South Africa, Tunisia and Zimbabwe, had registered.

The tournament’s programme includes Juniors and Seniors Team and All-around Finals on April 11 and April 12 respectively, followed by Apparatus Finals on April 13 and 14 in the Men’s and Women’s Junior and Senior categories.

Remaining deadlines

Definitive registration: February 9
Nominative registration: March 9

Artistic Gymnastics Indroductory Age Group Camp
Pretoria (RSA), January 20 – 22, 2012

LAUSANNNE (SUI), FIG Office, January 23, 2012: The third geographic region in which the FIG Age Group Programme was introduced was in Zone 3 of Africa that includes all of the FIG members in southern Africa. An introductory seminar and camp was held in Pretoria, South Africa at the facilities of the Matsport Center which is a facility operated under the name of SAGF National Academy of Gymnastics by the South African Gymnastics Federation (SAGF) for special events. This three-day introductory seminar and camp was held on January 20-22, 2012. The lack of special modified apparatus and training and methodological equipment made it difficult to demonstrate some parts of the Age Group Programme.

The Age Group programme includes a testing and monitoring programme for Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics physical abilities and technical skills as well as a complete competition programme with modified rules for age-group gymnasts and compulsory exercises for all ages. It also includes a variety of additional information related to developing problems related to a growing gymnasts, physical preparation for injury prevention and lectures on artistry and the art of coaching. The competition and compulsory programme was developed by Hardy Fink, Director of Education and Academy Programmes, and, for the choreographic and artistic elements by many time Olympic-coach Carol Angela Orchard, now of Great Britain. Well known coach, Dieter Hofmann of Germany developed the physical and technical testing programme.

The FIG funded the experts and the participation of a MAG and WAG coach from each of the federations. Additional coaches attended at their own expense.

In attendance were thirty-five coaches from Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. We had hoped that the FIG member federation of Botswana would also attend, but that was not to be the case. The experts were Hardy Fink as the course leader and Carol Angela Orchard. Dieter Hofmann was also expected to be there but injured himself in a skiing accident just shortly before the camp. The two experts presented all components of the age group project and presented additional theory and practical lectures to enhance the understanding and education of the participating coaches.

The participating federations will now study the components of this new project offered by the FIG with their federation leaders and decide if they wish to adopt and implement it within their countries and regions. If the decision is positive, then each federation will be offered an annual monitoring and updating camp in their own countries so that more coaches and gymnasts can be exposed to the information and their progress monitored. The FIG will incorporate the learning and observations from these introductory seminars to make small modifications to the programme if deemed necessary.

The event was organised by Allan Chadwick who is the Men’s Technical Chairman. The SAGF President, Jerry Masia was keenly interested in the project and visited the course several times.

FIG Artistic Gymnastics Level 3 Academy
Frankfurt (GER), January 14-18, 2012

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, January 23, 2012: Ten members of the Men’s and Women’s Technical Committees of the European Gymnastics Union (UEG) attended the first Academy of 2012. It was the 60th Aacademy for Artistic Gymnastics and the 119th overall.

This Level 3 Academy was hosted in Frankfurt by the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB) at its headquarters and national training centre. Most of the UEG-TC members came directly to Frankfurt from the pre-Olympic event in London to on the morning of January 14 to attend the lectures that began already that same afternoon. The Academy content that usually requires six days of lectures and one free day for study and preparation was packed into four very full and very long days to reduce the “away” time for this busy group of leaders.

For WAG, the attendees were President Yvette Brasier of France, Hana Liskarova of the Czech Republic, Montserrat Ubia Carnicer of Spain, Satu Murtonen of Finland and Orna Shai of Israel. The MAG participants were Alain Macchia of France, Andrew Tombs of Great Britain, Holger Albrecht of Germany, Jacob Wischnia of Israel and Mircea Apolzan of Roumania. Each of them attended all lectures and successfully completed the theory and practical examination. They have now met all requirements for a level 3 Academy and join three other UEG-TC members who had completed the requirements in previous years. These were Technical President Gianfranco Marzolla of Italy who received an honorary brevet in 2003, Tom Thingvold of Norway who completed the full course in 2007 and Anca Mihailescu-Grigoras who received an honorary brevet as part of the FIG-WTC in 2008. Of them, it was gratifying to see that Tom Thingvold chose to attend the first three days of the Academy and Gianfranco came for the last two days and presented each of the TC members with their participation certificates.

The participants represented 10 countries including Israel for the first time. Israel now becomes the 107th FIG member federation to attend an FIG Academy.

The course was conducted in the English language and an amazing amount of highly contemporary and relevant technical, scientific and methodological information was presented.

The experts were among the most successful and renowned persons in their fields. Enrico Casella of Italy who was the coach of 2006 World all-around Champion Vanessa Ferrrari taught the women’s apparatus. Edouard Iarov, a member of the FIG-MTC and renowned coach of Valeri Liukin taught the men’s apparatus. Dr. Keith Russell, the President of the FIG Scientific Commission presented three lectures related to medical issues in gymnastics, Dr. Peter Brüggemann of Germany and former President of the FIG Scientific Commission taught biomechanics and Dr. Thomas Heinen also of Germany taught Psychology. Lasse Nettum, a music expert from Norway spoke about music theory in both theoretical and practical sessions that replaced the normal artistry and choreography sessions for such an Academy. Hardy Fink, the Director of FIG Education and Academy Programmes served as course leader and lectured in biomechanics.

The organisation of the course was of the highest quality and all technical, audio-visual, and educational equipment as well as demonstrator gymnasts were constantly available.

Thanks and congratulations for organising this course go to the German Gymnastics Federation and its President Rainer Brechtken who came to greet the participants at a special luncheon. Special thanks also to Marc Hansen, the main organiser, for the tireless work he did before and during the Academy.

Preliminary Feedback on Olympic Test and Qualifying Events

LONDON (GBR), North Greenwich Arena FIG Office, January 18, 2012: Less than 200 days from the opening day of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), Prof. Bruno Grandi (ITA), reports on the Test Events that have just drawn to a close as the last and final opportunity to qualify.

He emphasises that the final selective heat is a first for the FIG. “I am pleased that our gymnasts now have a second chance at participation in the Games, an initiative that aims to bring greater justice to the sport. But as with all new concepts, we will need to revisit certain criteria, details, that some feel are still too complicated. Our experience in London will be a great help to us. From a purely sportive standpoint, I am content to say that the values were upheld,” declared the President.

In terms of logistics, the President applauds the London organisers for high-quality event management. “Gymnastics is one of the most closely followed sports in the Olympic Games. I am persuaded that London will provide our gymnasts, the media, the public and our technical staff with an optimal training environment, an efficient reception and impeccable working conditions.”

President Grandi confides that the Finals in Artistic and Trampoline enjoyed spectacular audience success from a media standpoint. “This is the first time that the FIG has independently produced the signal of a Final. We have chosen to embrace a modern philosophy by live broadcasting on our “Gymnastics” You Tube channel. We have integrated social networks into our global communication package, which has proven very successful. I am excited about the prospects. Our new strategy is going to have an impact on the development of all upcoming FIG international competitions. This is an area close to my heart, and one of the objectives behind my campaign for a new mandate at the FIG General Assembly in October,” concluded the President.

From left to right: André F. Gueisbuhler, FIG Secretary General; Paul Deighton, LOCOG Chief Executive Officer; FIG President Prof. Bruno Grandi and Lord Sebastian Coe, Chair of the LOCOG Board.
 

Women’s Artistic Gymnastics 2012 Olympic qualifiers

LONDON (GBR), FIG Office, January 12, 2012: The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) today publishes the list of Women’s Artistic Gymnastics qualifiers for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

A total of 98 spots are available, with gymnasts qualifying at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo (JPN) and the Visa International Gymnastics in January 2012 in London (GBR).

Twelve teams of five gymnasts from USA, Russia, China, Romania, Japan, Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Canada, France and Brazil fill 60 spots.

As the sole female Individual Apparatus medallist of the 2011 Worlds, who fulfilled the minimum criteria and whose country did not qualify a full team, Thi Ha Thanh Phan (VIE), secured a nominative place.

Teams ranking fifth to eighth at the second qualifier earn one position each for their NOC (Belgium, Korea, Spain and the Netherlands), with the remaining positions being nominative as per the attached list.

Three places are set aside for continental balance and for tripartite universality. These places will be nominated in due course by the FIG Executive Committee and the Tripartite Commission respectively.

List of Women’s Artistic Gymnastics 2012 Olympic qualifiers 

Opening Press Conference

LONDON (GBR), FIG Office, January 9, 2012: With the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics podium training already under way at the North Greenwich Arena, the international media received their welcome to the Visa International Gymnastics event on Monday at an opening press conference staged by LOCOG Chief Executive Paul Deighton (GBR) and FIG Vice President Slava Corn (CAN).

There are precisely 200 days to go before the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics and Deighton duly emphasised London’s readiness for the Games. The Visa International Gymnastics is the 29th test event of the London Prepares series, the first of 2012 and the biggest one to date with some 300 participating gymnasts and an overall ticket availability of over 40,000.

Satisfied with the public’s interest, the LOCOG CEO reported that most of the ticketed sessions were sold out quickjly, with availability left for the afternoon sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, when the British Men’s Team will be bidding to qualify.

Corn expressed her delight with the phenomenal media interest in the event as she, welcomed the press representatives back to the impressive London venue that successfully hosted the 2009 Artistic Worlds.

As Corn explained, the event provides an opportunity for LOCOG to test operations ahead of the Games this summer as well as for the gymnasts to get a feel of the venue, and also serves as an Olympic qualifier. For the first time, the gymnastics body is holding a second qualification event for the Olympic Games this year, with the first having been the 2011 World Championships in the three disciplines.

Another first in London will be the live broadcast of the Men’s and Women’s Artistic and Trampoline Gymnastics finals on the FIG YouTube channel. And while fans can look forward to more high-quality video clips on YouTube, live scoring will be available on the federation’s event website for the Artistic and Rhythmic Gymnastics competitions.

In terms of television transmission, the FIG TV crew will produce footage of the event that will be made available to rights-holding broadcasters.

Corn confirmed the registration of a total of 420 media representatives at this event, including 140 representatives of the written press, 101 photographers, and 38 broadcasting companies.

The federation’s Vice President gave credit to the participating delegations, which had to adjust their training schedules for the event as January is usually not a peak time for gymnasts. She confirmed that everything possible was done to ensure the gymnasts’ safety, with the apparatus tested and certified and medical assistance on standby in the arena. The athletes’ health is a high priority for the federation, which runs a successful Academy programme for coaches’ education.

Finally Corn thanked LOCOG Gymnastics Manager Matthew Greenwood and his whole team for their excellent work and cooperation in preparing the event.

The event starts with the qualifiers for the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics on Tuesday at 10:30 am, which will determine the teams and individuals qualifying for the remaining Olympic spots.

NEW PRESIDENT!
Lausanne (SUI) / FIG Office, January 8, 2012: On January 6, 2012, the Portuguese Gymnastics Federation elected Mr João Paulo Oliveira do Nascimento e da Rocha as its President. The election follows the resignation of Manuel Boa de Jesus last November.

The Portuguese Federation, which is extremely active on the international scene, is in a difficult economic situation domestically. This resulted in the cancellation, on December 13, of the renowned Portimao Rhythmic Gymnastics tournament, scheduled for April 2012 and which counts towards the World Cup.

The FIG wishes Portuguese gymnastics and its new President Joao Paulo Rocha a swift return to a more stable economy, and will be pleased to quickly restore their international events to its calendar.phs
 

Visa International Gymnastics – London Prepares Series
London (GBR), January 10 – 18, 2012

LONDON (GBR), FIG Office, January 7, 2012: The eagerly anticipated second Olympic qualifier for Gymnastics will get underway in a mere three days’ time in London’s North Greenwich Arena, starting with the Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics qualification competitions on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

The Visa International Gymnastics event is the last chance for gymnasts to qualify for the London 2012 Games, and as part of the London Prepares Series it enables LOCOG to test crucial aspects of its operations ahead of the Games.

Also known as The O2 and built as the Millennium Dome to house the Millennium Experience exhibition in 2000, the North Greenwich Arena (NGA) will be the backdrop for the test event competitions in all three disciplines. The venue that hosted the 41st Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in 2009 will have a maximum capacity of 16,500 for this event. At Games time, Rhythmic Gymnastics will be hosted at Wembley Arena.

For fans, the main focus in all disciplines will be on the qualification competitions, with participants aiming for an Olympic berth.

Artistic Gymnastics

The event will feature preliminary rounds in Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics on January 10 and 11 respectively to determine the final places at the 2012 Games, and Individual Apparatus Finals on January 12 and 13 to test the field of play, results, timing and scoring systems. The gymnasts will compete in Teams, or as part of a mixed group of Individuals. Both MAG and WAG will qualify four Teams, while a number of spots as needed to fill up the 98 places available at the Olympic Games will be awarded to male and female Individual gymnasts.

In Men’s, the Teams from Japan, USA, China, Germany, Russia, Korea, Romania and Ukraine have already qualified, leaving Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy and Puerto Rico to battle it out for the four remaining spots.

The Women’s Teams of USA, Russia, China, Romania, Japan, Australia, Germany and Great Britain secured their Olympic qualification at the 2011 Worlds in Tokyo (JPN), leaving it up to Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Spain, France, Italy, Korea and the Netherlands to fight for the remaining places.

Trampoline Gymnastics

The Trampoline competition will take place over one day on January 13, with five male and five female gymnasts qualifying their NOCs for the remaining places at the London 2012 Olympic Games during Qualifications. The best eight gymnasts proceed to the Finals at this event.
Eight men and eight women secured Olympic participation for their NOC at the 2011 Worlds in Birmingham (GBR).

Rhythmic Gymnastics

Individuals and Groups take part in separate competitions in Rhythmic Gymnastics. Individual gymnasts perform four routines – hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon, while the Groups perform two – one with five balls, and one with three ribbons and two hoops.

The test event will reward five Individuals (nominative) and four Groups (NOCs) with Olympic berths, joining the 15 Individuals and six Groups who qualified at the 2011 Worlds in Montpellier (FRA).

Qualifications will be held on January 16 and 17 with the Finals scheduled for the 18th. The best ten Individuals as well as all eight participating Groups will proceed to the Finals at this event.

The FIG microsite, including all important information related to the event was launched today at http://londontest2012.fig-gymnastics.com/

See the lists of participants here and get familiar with the general programme:

More than 40,000 tickets were available for the event overall, with seats still available for the Artistic Gymnastics afternoon sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 10 and 11. Click here to purchase yours!

The international media will be welcomed by LOCOG Chief Executive Paul Deighton (GBR) and FIG Vice President Slava Corn (CAN) at an opening press conference at 3pm local time on Monday, January 9, the day that also marks 200 days to go to the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympic Games.

Second Olympic Qualification – OG London 2012 Test Event
London Prepares Series
London (GBR), January 10 – 18, 2012

Lausanne (SUI), FIG Office, January 5, 2012: The FIG Executive Committee has approved the list of Rhythmic and Trampoline Gymnastics athletes authorised to participate in the second qualifying event of the London Olympic Games, scheduled for January 11 – 13 and January 14 – 18 respectively in London’s North Greenwich Arena Dome.

Following the qualifying World Championships in 2011, a situation arose that required Executive Committee attention, particularly with regard to the criteria surrounding universality and host country participation.

Consequently, Rhythmic will line up 27 Individuals and 8 Groups, and Women’s Trampoline 17 athletes.

Note that 324 gymnasts will represent Gymnastics at the Olympic Games: 196 for Artistic, 96 for Rhythmic and 32 for Trampoline.

Consult the updated participants lists for Men’s and Women’s Artistic, Rhythmic and Trampoline Gymnastics.

2012 / 2013 FIG World Cup and
2012 Challenge Cup Series in Artistic Gymnastics

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, December 14, 2011: The upcoming international season in Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics includes six All-around World Cups (A category) between March 2012 and April 2013, as well as two Individual Apparatus World Cups (A category) and six Individual Apparatus Challenge Cup competitions (B category) in 2012.

With stopovers on three continents, the 2012 / 2013 All-around World Cup competitions are slated for March 3 in New York (USA), April 14 – 15 in Tokyo (JPN), December 1 – 2 in Stuttgart (GER) and December 8 in Glasgow (GBR) next year, before turning to Indianapolis (USA) in March 2013 and concluding in Tokyo (JPN) in April 2013.

Paris (FRA) on March 17 - 18 and Zibo City (CHN) on April 7 - 8 will host the 2012 Individual Apparatus World Cups, while 2012 Challenge Cups will take place on March 22 – 25 in Cottbus (GER), March 28 – 30 in Doha (QAT), April 20 – 22 in Maribor (SLO), April 27 – 29 in Osijek (CRO), June 9 – 10 in Ghent and November 23 – 24 in Ostrava (CZE).

Separate World Ranking lists will be established for men and women as well as for All-around and Individual Apparatus competitions just as in 2011. However, the introduction of combined World Ranking lists for Individual Apparatus competitions, including World Cups and Challenge Cups, is an innovation in 2012.

Participation rights to the All-around World Cups that feature a single final round are reserved for the best eight male and eight female gymnasts from the All-around Finals (CII) of both the World Championships 2011 in Tokyo (JPN) and the 2012 Olympic Games. Participation is limited to eight gymnasts plus one wild card from the organising member federation, with a maximum of two gymnasts per country. With the ultimate World Cup event being held in Tokyo, the best four results per gymnast count for the total ranking and the top scorers will be crowned the winners of the overall series.

World Cups with Individual Apparatus qualifications and finals are open to the apparatus finalists of the 2011 World Championships, the best two gymnasts per apparatus from the 2011 World Cup Ranking list for Individual Apparatus as well as the best two gymnasts per apparatus from the 2011 Challenge Cup Ranking List for Individual Apparatus. In addition, the organising member federation can grant wild cards to a maximum of one man and one woman.

The Challenge Cup series is an open category, with participation limited to two gymnasts per country and apparatus.

The winners of the 2012 Individual Apparatus World Cup & Challenge Cup Series will be the gymnasts with the highest number of points for each apparatus and the best four results counting after the last event in Ostrava, where special award ceremonies will be held and the winners will receive a cup.

For details, download the following documents from the FIG website:
2012 / 2013 Rules for the FIG All-around World Cup Series in Artistic Gymnastics
2012 Rules for the FIG Individual Apparatus World Cup and Challenge Cup Series in Artistic Gymnastics

Registration for the 2012 Artistic Gymnastics World Cup and Challenge Cup events are now open, with restrictions as outlined by the rules, and the following deadlines effective for FIG member federations to register their gymnasts via the online registration system:

WAG new elements

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, December 14, 2011: The FIG Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Technical Committee has announced that a total of nine new elements were successfully performed at the 43rd Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Tokyo (JPN) in October.
As described and depicted in the WAG Newsletter No 32 the new elements include five on the Uneven Bars, three on Balance Beam and one in Floor Exercises.

Gymnasts have the opportunity to present new elements at any official FIG event. In order for them to be included in the Code of Points, the submitted elements must be successfully (without fall) performed by the gymnasts during World Championships, Olympic Games or Youth Olympic Games and have at least a “C” value.

Apart from Christine Lee’s (CAN) 2 Flying Flairs mount on Balance Beam, a “B” element, all new elements performed in Tokyo were included in the list of elements as part of the WAG Code of Points, each named after the gymnast who first performed it.