World Gymnastics Championships Opens in GhentThe World Artistic Gymnastics will take place in Ghent, Belgium from October 28 till November 4 after the official opening ceremony in the Flanders Sports Arena on Saturday night.FIG President Bruno Grandi announced the opening of the event after a show performed by the Romanian Aeros group with a revolutionary and acrobatic dance. According to the organizing committee, there are about 560 gymnasts from 64 countries and regions taking part in the first post-Olympic World Championships which means very important to the gymnasts. It is the first major event on the new Code of points and the first to test the new competition format in the individual all- around and the apparatus finals. The competition will be in full swing tomorrow with the men's team and all-around qualifying competitions as the top eight teams are eligible for the team final and top 32 make the final of all- around. Russia's Olympic champions and bronze medalist in Sydney, Evgeny Podgorny, might be replaced from the team qualifying competition by other teammate as he fell off the high bar and damaged his elbow during the podium training a few days ago. Sydney Olympic team forth placers Japan had announced to withdraw from the worlds for "safety reason" earlier this month. |
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