23rd Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships
Lake Buena Vista (USA), April 16 – 18, 2012

7th Acrobatic Gymnastics World Age Group Competitions
Lake Buena Vista (USA), April 20 – 22, 2012

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, February 10, 2012: The drawing of lots for both the 23rd Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships and the 7th World Age Group Competitions took place at the FIG Head Office in Lausanne (SUI) on Wednesday.

The bi-annual events will be hosted this April by USA Gymnastics at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, marking ACRO’s international championship debut outside of Europe, where it has been hosted since its first World Championships in 1974 under IFSA leadership.

Participants of the senior event, who must be at least 15 years of age, have the chance to qualify at Lake Buena Vista for the 9th World Games in Cali (COL). The World Age Group Competitions span categories 11-16 and 12-19 years.

Featuring all Acrobatic Gymnastics disciplines, the championships include Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Pairs as well as Women’s Groups with three gymnasts and Men’s Groups composed of four gymnasts. During qualifications the gymnasts present one exercise each with balance, dynamic and combined elements, while the finals feature one combined exercise only.

Check out the draws:
23rd World Championships
7th World Age Groups
12-19 years old
11-16 years old

The deadline for nominative registration is March 14, 2012 for both events.

23rd Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships
Lake Buena Vista (USA), April 16 – 18, 2012

7th Acrobatic Gymnastics World Age Group Competitions
Lake Buena Vista (USA), April 20 – 22, 2012

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, January 31, 2012: With the close of definitive registration for both the 23rd Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships and the 7th World Age Group Competitions, the tournaments look promising in terms of participant numbers.

Both events were attributed to USA Gymnastics by the FIG Executive Committee in February 2011 and will be held in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, in April 2012 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex’s HP Field House, Walt Disney World Resort.

A total of 26 countries from all continents registered for the World Championships, making it a truly global event. With 22 units the Women’s Group category counts the highest number of entries, followed by 21 Mixed Pairs, 15 Men’s Pairs, 10 Women’s Pairs as well as 9 Men’s Groups. The federations of Brazil, Colombia and Tajikistan will send Acrobatic gymnasts to a World Championships for the very first time, with Brazil and Mexico new to the World Age Group programme thanks to FIG Technical Committee efforts to develop the discipline worldwide.

The World Age Group Competitions boast 33 participating countries as per definitive registration, with Girls’ Pairs and Groups in both age categories as well as Mixed Pairs in the 12-19 years age group among the most popular disciplines.

Check out the charts for definitive registration!
23rd World Championships
7th World Age Groups

The deadline for nominative registration is March 14, 2012 for both events.

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
 

2012 FIG World Championships, World Age Group Competitions and World Cup events in Acrobatic Gymnastics

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, December 14, 2011: The 2012 international season for Acrobatic Gymnastics will be highlighted by the 23rd World Championships and the 7th World Age Group Competitions in Lake Buena Vista (USA), slated for April 16 – 18 and April 20 – 22 respectively.

A World Cup circuit including three category B events, all of which featuring qualifications and finals in Men’s and Women’s Pairs, Mixed Pairs as well as Men’s and Women’s Groups, complete the discipline’s season.

With stopovers in Europe only, the World Cup competitions are slated for March 3 - 4 in Maia (POR), May 31 – June 2 in Aalen (GER) and September 8 -9 in Veliky Novgorod (RUS).

The world ranking points collected by competitors during the circuit will tally up, and the top scorers in each discipline will be crowned the winner of the overall series at the ultimate event in Vityazezo.

The new World Cup Rules 2012 for Acrobatic Gymnastics can be downloaded here!

Provisional registration for the 2012 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Cup events, the World Championships and the World Age Group Competitions are now open, with the following deadlines effective for FIG member federations to register their gymnasts via the online registration system:

FIG Academy Programme

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, December 13, 2011: The FIG Academies, a worldwide education programme for coaches in the federation’s six competitive disciplines that was launched in 2002, celebrated the 10th year of its existence in 2011.

With eighteen Academies held throughout the year in fourteen different countries and on all continents, the programme that has as its goal to provide gymnastically developing and fully developed countries with a common knowledge base for the growth of high performance gymnasts, now counts a total of 118 Academies overall. In October, overall participation reached 3,000 coaches, marking an important milestone for this education programme.

The FIG Academy Programme consists of three levels of coach education. Federations may enter at a level that reflects their specific gymnastic coaching education programmes at home. Thus, federations with no gymnastics coaching education or only occasional coaching clinics must begin at Level 1. Those with formal coaching education programmes may begin at Level 2. Those with formal university degree programmes specifically for gymnastic coaches may begin at Level 3. Level 3 candidates who meet special pre-requisites and achieve exceptional examination results will be awarded with an FIG Coaches’ Brevet.

Even though the FIG does not certify or license coaches, federation-oriented responsibility, the seven-day Academy courses conclude with a comprehensive theoretical and practical examination.

Overview of Academies and Levels held in 2011

This three-level FIG Academy Programme has a high performance orientation but is supplemented, in cooperation with the FIG Gymnastics for All Committee, with a cross-discipline Gymnastics Foundations course targeting federations that are in the preliminary stages of establishing organised gymnastics programmes in their countries.

Each year, the FIG allocates a significant sum to its associated continental unions for development projects, with a certain percentage of this contribution being used for the organisation and participation of coaches at the Academy programmes.

Effective as of the year 2012, candidates for mandates within any FIG Technical Committee must have participated at a Level 3 Academy for their respective discipline. However, a Coaching Brevet is not mandatory.

Outlook for 2012

A total of twenty-five Academies are planned in 2012 with the following confirmed to date:

Overview of confirmed Academies and Levels planned for 2012

Hardy Fink, the FIG Director of Education and Academy Programmes, said:  “With the participation now of over 1,700 different coaches from 106 member federations at 118 Academies hosted by 44 countries, the FIG Academy Programme can now claim to be a world-wide programme. The coming year will bring even more Academies to make up for some of the ones that had to be postponed in 2011 because of the political conditions in the Arabian and North African countries. 

The Academy Programme for Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics has been supplemented this year with a comprehensive Age Group Development, Competition and Testing Programme that was introduced to 17 countries in 2011 to which will be added as many as 25 more during 2012.

The continuing support of the FIG President and Executive Committee has made this unique and extraordinary educational effort possible and has certainly already had a positive impact around the world. Thanks go also to the thirty-nine federations that have permitted the use of over 170 of their experts to teach at these many Academies and courses.”

Check out the detailed summary of completed and planned Academies here!

For more information, statistics, reviews and photo galleries of the FIG Academy Programme, visit the “Education” section on the FIG website.

FIG Acrobatic Gymnastics Level 1 Academy
Maracaibo (VEN), November 21 – 28, 2011

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, December 5, 2011: Venezuela hosted the first Spanish language Academy for Acrobatic Gymnastics in the city of Maracaibo. It was the sixth Academy for that discipline and the 115th overall.

This Academy was funded by the FIG Development Fund for the Pan-American Gymnastics Union (PAGU) and all Spanish speaking FIG member federations were invited. Eight coaches participated; all from the host country of Venezuela.  The low number of participants was a big disappointment for a gymnastics discipline that the FIG had intended to promote throughout the region by means of the Academy.

The course leader was Andrea João of Brazil who has served as FIG expert at Academies in all disciplines. She taught most of the theory lectures and artistic preparation. Two other experts came to teach at this Academy from Portugal - Lourenço França and Vanda Videira who both coach the Portuguese National Team and who both earned an FIG Coaching Brevet earlier this year. They taught all of the practical lectures and Lourenço taught biomechanics as well.

The highest results were achieved by Mayling Mujica Valderrama of Venezuela.

Thanks go again to the Venezuela Gymnastics Federation for hosting this second Academy this year.

The FIG Academy Programme continues with an Academy for Rhythmic Gymnastics in Tokyo in progress now, followed by an Academy for Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics in Chile and in Japan.

A role model for Giraldo!

(by Ludovic Hubler, Head of Programme & Field Operations P&S)

The Peace & Sport Organization and the FIG launched on November 11 the programme “Gimnasia por la Paz” (Gymnastics for Peace) in Bogota (COL), a program using gymnastics to support women’s empowerment and social integration and prevent juvenile delinquency.

This  first FIG-Peace and Sport project “Gimnasia por la Paz” went very well.

Over 150 kids coming from the slums of Bogota were gathered inside the premises of the “Fundacion San Antonio”, one of our NGO partners taking part in the project (4 NGOs are overall taking part in the project).

New champion for Peace Jorge Hugo Giraldo Lopez was present as planned and played his “role-model” role in a magnificent way.

He first talked to the kids explaining his background growing up in the slums of Medellin and working hard to become one of the best Gymnast in the world. He also showed the 3 silver medals he won at the recent Panamerican games in Guadalajara (MEX), explaining how much work was necessary, starting from 8 years old ! Kids loved to touch the medals and getting autographs and photos with him. Jorge Hugo also made an exhibition showing how talented he is.

A very humble man with lots of qualities, a very good ambassador for FIG and Peace and Sport !

This project can now play the role of a “pilot project” for the National Federation who can use this experience to develop a national strategy putting Gymnastics at the service of peace cooperating with NGOs/Youth Centres situated in vulnerable zones.

As planned, some 3-4 minutes movies will be made soon for promotion that could help also to find future common partners for future common projects.

Other inaugurations will happen in other centers within the next few days in Cali and Guapi.

Peace and Sport is very happy of this new cooperation with FIG to use and promote Gymnastics as a tool for peace education and social integration of the most vulnerable. The experts have been appreciated by all involved stakeholders.

FIG Executive Committee Official News.

Lausanne FIG Office (SUI),  6-8 November 2011

·         The federations of Seychelles (SEY) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (PRK) are suspended; the former for failing to meet its financial obligations, and the latter as the result of a disciplinary breach. Conversely, the federations of CYP, INA, JAM, KAZ, MKD, PAR, POL, SYR, TJK and YEM have normalised their positions; however, in accordance with FIG Statutes, they are prevented from submitting proposals or proposing candidates at the next FIG Congress.

·         Hidenori Futagi, President of the Japanese Gymnastics Association, has been put forward to the International Fair Play Committee as a candidate for the 2011 Willy Daume World Trophy.

·         In artistic gymnastics, Russian gymnast Andrey Lihovitskiy will henceforth represent Belarus. Robert Kriangkum, a former citizen of Canada, will henceforth compete for Thailand. Jessica Dowling, who is originally from Canada, has been granted a Dutch passport. In rhythmic gymnastics, Kseniya Moustafaeva, formerly of Belarus, will now represent France. Meanwhile, the judge Jadranka Atanaskovic, formerly of Serbia, will henceforth serve as a USA official.

·          The price of all FIG licences has been set at a single rate of CHF 30.00.

·         In the absence of any medical recommendation to the contrary, all use of syringes 24 hours before or after a competition is henceforth banned.

·         The Executive Committee has appointed Wolfgang William (GER), President of the FIG Competitions Commission, as delegate responsible for supervising World Cup events.

·         The Executive Committee duly recognises the re-election of Zobeira Hernandez Delgado (VEN) to the presidency of the Pan-American Gymnastics Union (PAGU) and extends to her its congratulations.

·         The following World Cup events have been approved by the Executive Committee:

o   TRA/TUM: Sofia (BUL), 12-13 October 2012 ;

o   AER: Azores (POR), 18-20 May 2012 ;

o   ACRO: Veliky Novgorod (RUS), 9 September 2012.

·         Bulgaria has declared itself a candidate to stage the 2012 Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships in its capital city, Sofia.

·         The 2013 Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships, which have been awarded to Bulgaria, will now take place in Sofia instead of Varna. 

·         Olympic test events in London, starting in January 2012: for the artistic gymnastics, the FIG Executive Committee has confirmed the participation of eight teams, and 41 GAM and GAF athletes in the artistic gymnastics event.

• The list of gymnasts qualifying for the trampoline event will be confirmed following the World Championships in Birmingham (GBR) on 17-20 November 2011. 

The next session of the FIG Executive Committee is scheduled to take place in Lausanne (SUI) / FIG Office, on 20-24 February 2012.

FIG Acrobatic Gymnastics World Cup A
San Marino Trophy 2011
Forli (ITA), November 12-13, 2011

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, November 9, 2011: Forli, the home town of FIG President Prof Bruno Grandi (ITA), will be the backdrop for the final event of the 2011 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Cup series on November 12–13.

The tournament features 96 gymnasts from 14 different countries, and it will be hosted by the Gymnastics Federation of San Marino on Italian soil at the PalaCredito di Romagna sports complex. The tournament includes Men’s and Women’s Pairs competitions, Mixed Pairs and Men’s and Women’s Groups, with Qualifications scheduled for Saturday and Finals on Sunday.

With the overall winners of the 2011 World Cup series being crowned in Forli, and all the leading contenders having registered, competition will be especially fierce! In each discipline spectators can look forward to seeing the top three in the respective World Ranking list, and with the gap between the current leaders being narrow competition will stay open and exciting until the end!

Check the current World Rankings here and take a look at the Forli roster!

The event website provides detailed information and updates during the tournament: http://www.forliacroworldcup.com/.

About 2011 FIG World Cup Series in Acrobatic Gymnastics

The 2011 FIG World Cup circuit in Acrobatic Gymnastics includes two category A events (Puurs and Forli) and two category B events, all of which will feature competitions in Men’s and Women’s Pairs, Mixed Pairs as well as Men’s and Women’s Groups.

With stopovers in Europe only, the competitions are slated for April 14 – 17 in Puurs (BEL), September 2 – 4 in Zielona Gora (POL), September 16 – 17 in Vityazevo (RUS) and November 9 – 13 in Forli (ITA).

One balance and one dynamic exercise will be presented during Qualifications, while the Finals for which the top eight pairs or groups per category qualify, feature one combined exercise. Participation is limited to three units per country in each category. Furthermore, in the event that the host federation has failed to qualify for a Final, a wild card will ensure its participation in a single category of its choice.

The world ranking points collected by competitors during the circuit will tally up, and the top scorers in each discipline will be crowned the winners of the overall series at the ultimate event in Forli.

25th Senior Acrobatic Gymnastics European Championships
Varna (BUL), October 27 – 30, 2011

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, October 31, 2011: The 25th senior Acrobatic Gymnastics European Championships concluded yesterday at Varna’s (BUL) Palace of Culture and Sports.

During Sunday’s All-around Final, Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Pairs as well as Men’s and Women’s Groups presented their combined exercises that when added to the qualification scores for balance and dynamic exercises, determined the All-around titles.

Men’s Pair Combined

For the Men’s Pairs, it’s was primarily the starting order that kept suspense high until Russia appeared, last to compete; but the top of the ranking order established prior to these Finals did not change. The title goes to the Russians, the Silver medal to the British for an impeccable exercise with magnificent formations and incredible lifts and throws, and the Bronze is awarded to Belarus.

1-PILIPCHUK Konstantin [1986] DUDCHENKO Alexey [1984] (RUS) – 84.753
2-MCASSEY Adam [1989] UPCOTT Edward [1991] (GBR) – 84.570
3-KALACHOU Yauheni [1994] FEDCHANKA Ruslan [1992] (BLR) – 82.410

Mixed Pairs Combined

Only surprises for this Final with, notably, a fall from the Russian Duo’s top that cost them the Gold after a first place qualification. The Portuguese took the lead after that, still unsure if they would become the European Champions. It was only after a poor performance by the Ukrainians, second in the preliminaries, that all the cards had been played. Bulgaria was rewarded with the Bronze.

1-GANCALO Roque [1988] ROLAO Sofia [1996] (POR) – 82.826
2-OKULOVA Tatiana [1990] GURGENIDZE Revaz [1986] (RUS) – 82.331
3-IVANOVA Mirela [1994] KIROV Zlatin [1989] (BUL) – 82.306

Women’s Pairs Combined

The British Pair, already the top qualifier, won this Final with a perfectly-mastered performance. It was the Russian duo in their yellow and black leotards that secured second position, outscoring the Ukrainians who had suffered a fall and ultimately ended up in third.

1-BAKER Alanna [1992] SPALDING Poppy [1996] (GBR) – 82.914
2-KIM Valentina [1995] DUBROVINA Elizaveta [1993] (RUS) – 82.127
3-SYTNIKOVA Kateryna [1989] MELNYCHENKO Anastasiya [1994] (UKR) – 80.475

Women’s Groups Combined

The preliminary ranking remains unchanged for this category, with a seemingly perfect performance from Russia that showcased precise choreography and clean-cut formations to the French Cancan; the European Title. The Belgian routine also contained numerous difficulty elements, each more impressive than the other, catapulting three young ladies into second. The podium was completed by the Belarus, who took home the Bronze.

1-SHAYKHUTDINOVA Aygul [1994] STRYNOVA Ekaterina [1987] LOGINOVA Ekaterina [1985] (RUS) – 84.925
2-VAN OVERBERGHE Sanne [1991] SCHOLLIER Lara [1993] VAN BETRSBRUGGE Camille [1995] (BEL) – 84.011
3-KOBYZEVA Hanna [1996] KOVALENKO Yulia [1994] KHRYPACH Yuliya [1989] (BLR) – 83.011

Men’s Groups Combined

With a stunning performance, the British grabbed their second Gold medal after a gold victory in the Balance Final. With them on the podium was Russia with Silver and Poland taking home Bronze.

1-HESKETT Jesse [1994] HURST Richard [1990] WALKER Dorian [1990] EVISON Matthew [1992] (GBR) – 81.889
2-CHETVERKIN Valentin [1996] SUPRUNOV Nikolay [1993] DANCHENKO Anton [1990] BRIZGALOV Dmitry [1991] (RUS) – 81.207
3-ANTONOWICZ Tomasz [1989] SLUPECKI Marcin [1993] RUDYK Szymon [1992] RUDZIAK Marcin [1995] (POL) – 80.390

The 9th Junior Acrobatic Gymnastics European Championships took place parallel to the senior event in Varna.

More information on both tournaments can be found at www.ueg-gymnastics.com and http://www.acro2011.bg/. For full results click here!

(source: UEG)
 

WADA Play True on line

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has enhanced the electronic platform of its Play True magazine.

The electronic magazine will supplement the current WADA website by providing additional insight into the Agency’s day-to-day activities and developments within the anti-doping community worldwide.

“The electronic version of Play True is another important step for WADA’s overall communications strategy and gives the Agency – and its stakeholders - another platform on which to deliver its anti-doping message,” said WADA Director General David Howman.

“The fight against doping in sport is a constant challenge and this new Play True will enhance WADA’s ability to communicate with the anti-doping community and create a forum to facilitate debate around an issue that continues to threaten sport.”

As well as regular news item, the electronic Play True will include features on anti-doping and profiles of individuals, experts and athletes involved in the fight against doping in sport.

It will also include editorials and messages from WADA President John Fahey and WADA Director General David Howman.

WADA stakeholders will also have the opportunity to submit content and use it as a portal for anti-doping issues which they want to highlight.wada

The President re-elected.

(from Steve Butcher in Guadalajara)

Guadalajara (MEX) - Lausanne (SUI) / FIG Office, October 25, 2011: The Pan American Gymnastics Union (PAGU) held their Congress and elections for the cycle on October 18-19 in Guadalajara, Mexico.  These elections are held every four years and coincide with the Pan American Games.  Current PAGU president Zobeira Hernandez was re-elected for a second term in a closely contested election. 

In Photo (in order, left to right): Trampoline Gymnastics TC president: Stéphan Duchesne (CAN); Rhythmic Gymnastics TC president: Paula Gergo (ARG); Gymnastics for All TC president: Carmen Gómez Alcalá (MEX); Women’s Artistic Gymnastics TC President: Naomi Valenzo (MEX); PAGU President: Zobeira Hernández (VEN); Men’s Artistic Gymnastics TC President- Jaime Corredor (COL);

All new positions for 2011-2015 will take effect after the Pan American Games competition, October 24-28, also in Guadalajara.  FIG Vice-President Slava Corn (CAN) was also present at the Congress to assist in all aspects of the proceedings.

Several important topics were discussed at the Congress, including the sites of future events and specific regulations relative to PAGU competitions.  One important decision was the change in the team size for the 2015 Pan American Games from 6 gymnasts to 5 gymnasts, based on the current quota of athletes.  This will allow for the participation of individuals from more federations.SBU.

FIG Aerobic and Acrobatic Code of Points Symposium
Berlin (GER), September 5 - 7, 2011

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, September 15, 2011: FIG Acrobatic Gymnastics TC President Tonya Case (USA) is upbeat about the outcome of the Code of Points Symposium held jointly with Aerobic Gymnastics last week in Berlin (GER).

For the first time since the FIG took over the discipline’s governance Acrobatic Gymnastics experts had an opportunity to discuss a wide range of topics with open debate. The Acrobatics Community shares a common vision for the future highlighting three primary topics on which the majority of the Symposium focused: Artistry Judging, Tables of Difficulty and the Age Group programme with focus on the safe and healthy development of the discipline.

The Artistry discussion was facilitated by two very informative and interesting presentations by Lyn Heward (CAN), Head of Creativity at Cirque du Soleil. Her professional background, as well as her long association with the sport of gymnastics provided an excellent basis to challenge current thinking and stimulate discussion. Although Artistry judging is a challenge, all recognise that the Artistry score has helped to elevate Acrobatic Gymnastics to a new level. The aim is to strive for judging rules which are less complex, but that reward top performances.

During the Round Table in Wroclaw (POL) in 2010, some specific changes to the Tables of Difficulty were asked for. FIG Acrobatic Gymnastics TC Vice President Irina Nikitina (RUS), together with Albert Jung and Vitcho Kolev of Germany, has been working towards a new format for the Balance tables that is much easier to understand. It also decreases the number of pages by almost 75%. The skill values were reviewed in small working groups. Many of their proposals have already been accepted by the TC and the expertise of the coaching community will influence the direction of the next Tables of Difficulty.

Assisted by Medical Commission President and FIG Vice President Michel Leglise (FRA), along with FIG Scientific Commission President Keith Russell (CAN), the Symposium delegates spent time focused on the healthy development of Age Group gymnasts. The programme was reviewed in great detail at the Poland Round Table and all countries were of the opinion that the steps between the Age Groups 11-16 years, 12-19 years and seniors (15+) were too great. The delegates at the Symposium confirmed this opinion, and agreed that the best solution was the addition of a third Age Group. This is seen as critical for the developing countries that need a solid framework to direct their efforts. The countries also expressed the need to revise the accreditation rules for coaches, for all levels, but especially for young gymnasts. This is a duty of care and needs careful attention for the safe performance of the athletes.

The Acrobatics Community, along with the Technical Committee expressed much appreciation to the FIG President, Bruno Grandi (ITA), for providing this opportunity. His leadership and guidance were critical during this important process. They also thanked the German Gymnastics Federation for hosting the symposium.

FIG Acrobatic Gymnastics World Cup B
Vityazevo (RUS), September 16 – 17, 2011

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, September 12, 2011: Ten countries will be represented in Vityazevo (RUS) where the hosting federation, Russian Sports Acrobatics, and the organising federation, Kuban Sports Acrobatics, will welcome participants for this year’s third FIG Acrobatic Gymnastics World Cup.

The tournament, scheduled for September 16 – 17, features competitions in Men’s and Women’s Pairs, Mixed Pairs as well as Men’s and Women’s Groups, with Qualifications on Friday and Finals on Saturday.

From the seven entries in Men’s Pairs 2010, world Silver medallists Konstantin Pilipchuk / Alexey Dudchenko of Russia as well as Belarusians Yauheni Kalachou / Ruslan Fedchanka stand out and we’ll see all the Women’s and Mixed Pairs that made it to the podium in Zielona Gora earlier this month.

The 2010 Men’s Group Bronze medallists from Russia will compete with two additional entries from the host country as well as with Groups from Bulgaria and Uzbekistan, while the Women’s line-up is again headed by reigning World Champions Aygul Shaykhudinova / Ekaterina Stroynova / Ekaterina Loginova (RUS). They will be challenged by the Silver medal winning Belgian trio from Zielona Gora, as well as their compatriots, Bronze medallists at the same tournament.

Check out the nominative registrations and the starting order!

About 2011 FIG World Cup Series in Acrobatic Gymnastics

The 2011 FIG World Cup circuit in Acrobatic Gymnastics includes two category A events (Puurs and Forli) and two category B events, all of which will feature competitions in Men’s and Women’s Pairs, Mixed Pairs as well as Men’s and Women’s Groups.

With stopovers in Europe only, the competitions are scheduled for April 14 – 16 in Puurs (BEL), September 2 – 3 in Zielona Gora (POL), September 16 – 17 in Vityazezo (RUS) and November 12 – 13 in Forli (ITA).

One balance and one dynamic exercise will be presented during Qualifications, while the Finals for which the top eight pairs or groups per category qualify, feature one combined exercise. Participation is limited to three units per country in each category. Furthermore, in the event that the host federation has failed to qualify for a Final, a wild card will ensure its participation in a single category of its choice.

The world ranking points collected by competitors during the circuit will tally up, and the top scorers in each discipline will be crowned the winners of the overall series at the ultimate event in Forli.

FIG Aerobic and Acrobatic Code of Points Symposium
Berlin (GER), September 5 - 7, 2011

BERLIN (GER) - LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, September 5, 2011: FIG President Bruno Grandi (ITA) addressed a warm welcome to the participants of the Aerobic and Acrobatic Gymnastics symposium that got underway on Monday in Berlin (GER).

Some forty experts from gymnastics’ non-Olympic disciplines, representing nineteen national federations, responded to an invitation from the FIG President to attend a symposium on the 2013 – 2016 Codes of Points. The conference follows two similar meetings held in Zurich (SUI) in April and June for Rhythmic, Artistic, and Trampoline Gymnastics.

Moderated by FIG Vice-Presidents Slava Corn (CAN) for Aerobic and Dr Michel Léglise (FRA) for Acrobatic Gymnastics, the symposium brings together members of both FIG Technical Committees, the FIG affiliated federations and external renowned experts. New tools and strategies are discussed in a constructive atmosphere with the aim of bringing positive changes to each of the disciplines. Sessions consist of panel discussions on topics presented by Committee members, with time for questions, suggestions and feedback.

Experts present at the symposium include FIG Scientific Commission President Keith Russell (CAN), FIG Education and Academy Programmes Director Hardy Fink (CAN), Lyn Heward (CAN), Head of Creativity at Cirque de Soleil, and FIG Honorary Vice-President John Atkinson (GBR). Valuable input is also expected from UEG TC Presidents Cristina Casentini (Aerobic) and Laurie Colton (Acrobatic).

In his opening speech, President Grandi reminded participants that the symposium aims to bolster discipline development, and invited the experts to present their ideas to this effect. He pointed out that the sport’s technical issues may become political issues as well.

The symposium continues until Wednesday afternoon and is followed by a FIG Presidential Commission Meeting to review the outcome.