World Games 2009 Test Events, Kaohsiung (TPE)
KAOHSIUNG (TPE) FIG Office, November 4, 2008: With the Rhythmic, Acrobatic and Trampoline Gymnastics events a thing of the past, our attention has turned to the Aerobic competitions of the World Games 2009 Test Events which will begin today in the Kaohsiung Arena with the qualifying rounds in all disciplines. This being the first time Chinese Taipei has held an international Aerobics competition, it seems only natural that we present a brief overview of the sport and introduce these incredible gymnasts to the host country:
Aerobic Gymnastics has not only been a great form of physical training for the general public since the end of the 1980’s, it is a top-level competitive sport. It presents dynamic moves, strength, flexibility, co-ordination and a musical selection in any one routine, which lasts up to 1 minute and 50 seconds. The performed routine must demonstrate continuous movement patterns and include the use of the seven basic steps, all the while executing each pattern flawlessly; and that includes elements of difficulty!
The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), the only international body for Aerobic Gymnastics recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and the International World Games Association (IWGA), has included and developed the discipline through General Gymnastics activities since the latter half of the 1980’s. The first Official World Championships were held in 1995 in Paris, and in 1997 the International World Games Association (IWGA) included Aerobic Gymnastics on the programme of the 5th World Games in Lahti (FIN).
At yesterday’s Orientation Meeting, FIG TC President Mr John Atkinson (GBR) spoke in reference to the World Games 2009, and emphasised what a great opportunity it is to have Taiwan Public Television Service (PTS) and ESPN Asia broadcasting this test event. He is well aware how essential television exposure is to developing a new sports discipline.
Elite Aerobic gymnasts from six different nations (Chinese Taipei, Hungary, South Africa, Italy, France and Vietnam) have come to perform in the upcoming Individual Men’s, Individual Women’s, Pairs and Trios competitions in preparation for the World Games next year.
Dominique Mann and Matthew Levy from South Africa will compete in the Individual categories. Both gymnasts topped the ranking list at the National Championships just one week ago in Brits (RSA), and participated in this year’s 10th World Championships in Ulm (GER). While 23 year old Mann, who competed in Rhythmic Gymnastics for three years before discovering her passion for Aerobics, has been out of training for a while, Levy is very well prepared. Having performed his personal best in Brits and focusing on precise and neat execution, the experienced gymnast (he also competed in Artistic and Tumbling) is ready to go!
Levy will come across world class gymnasts from France and Hungary as well as the Italian Vito Iaia, Silver medallist at the 2007 European Championships in Szombathely (HUN) and winner of the 7th World Games 2005 in this discipline. 
Apart from the Men’s Individual category, Iaia, who began practicing Aerobics at the age of 16, will also be starting in the Trio competition. Together with Antonio Caforio and Emanuele Pagliuca, he hopes to achieve good results in the Kaohsiung Arena, a feat which will prove important to next year’s World Games competition. The Italian Trio looks at their French rivals as the toughest competition the next two days can afford. Their compatriot Guila Bianchi, who turned 18 yesterday, placed 6th at the World Championships in Ulm (GER) this year, and secured a second and third ranking at the 2008 World Cup competitions in Borovets (BUL) and Las Vegas (USA), respectively.
Chinese Taipei will be starting tomorrow with a Mixed Pair and a Trio in the qualifying rounds. Xu Shu-Miao is excited about having an international Aerobics competition in her home country, and feels this is an excellent opportunity to promote the sport within the borders of Chinese Taipei. Coach Huang Bo Lun explained that both the Trio and the Mixed Pair participated in the 2008 World Championships in Ulm and in the Suzuki World Cup in Tokyo (JPN), but finished in the lower ranks. With a history in Rhythmic Gymnastics, Xu Shu-Miao decided to launch a sporting career in Aerobics in 2006, and is pleased to discover how much progress she’s made in the discipline.
As they work to raise the level of difficulty in their routines during practice, the Mixed Pair’s objective for the upcoming competition is to gain better execution and higher scores than those achieved earlier this year. Xu cherishes every opportunity she gets to compete on an international stage, and looks at each event as a precious learning experience.
The line-up for the Aerobic Gymnastics competitions of the World Games 2009 Test Events is simply remarkable! And we haven’t even mentioned the Hungarians, or the Vietnamese, or the French … at least not yet!
