This month, the Chinese Gymnastics Association officially
announced that once again, in cooperation with the Fdration
Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), the 2007 Gymnastics World Cup
competition will be held from July 27th through 29th in
Shanghai.
Following the success of the 2006 Gymnastics World Cup, the
competition will return to Shanghai's International Gymnastics
Center. The event is currently the highest-level gymnastics
competition to be held in China.
The FIG 2007 Gymnastics World Cup in Shanghai represents the
last A-level World Cup competition before the 2007 World Artistic
Gymnastic Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. Therefore, it is
expected that many of the world's premier gymnasts will converge in
Shanghai in preparation for the World Championships.
Currently, gymnastics federations from over 22 countries and
regions have registered to compete, including traditional
gymnastics powerhouses: Japan, Russia, Hungary, Slovenia, and South
Korea.
At the same time, the FIG 2007 World Cup also offers elite
athletes the chance to chart their progress and size up the
competition before the 2008 Olympic Games - an opportunity which is
sure to attract top talent from gymnastics disciplines across the
world.
This past year has proved to be one of Chinese gymnastics most
successful seasons. In October, the Chinese National Gymnastics
team won 8 gold medals at the Gymnastics World Championships in
Denmark, with the women's team earning the world championship
title.
Additionally in November at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar,
China picked up another pair of matching championships in the
gymnastics overall competition.
In December at the Gymnastics World Cup Finals in Brazil, the
Chinese team took home 4 golds, bringing the total number of
gymnastics gold medals won in 2006 to a record-breaking 75 gold
medals. However, the stage is being set for 2008, as the Chinese
team looks towards Olympic success - each competition before then
acting as a means to prepare and improve before the Games. There
are high expectations of the Chinese team heading into next year's
Olympic Games, as Chinese gymnasts have won gold medals at each
Games appearance since 1984.
"The Chinese National Gymnastics team had a successful 2006
season, however the mission for 2008 is to win even more gold
medals, more championships," said Gao Jian , CGA vice-president.
"The FIG 2007 Gymnastics World Cup gives competitors a chance to
see where they stand internationally as well as work towards
improving their routines prior to the Olympic Games. At the same
time, it also offers the Chinese gymnastics team an opportunity to
select the best athletes to represent China in the 2008 Olympic
Games."
(China Daily May 25, 2007)