Draws for the 2nd Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing (CHN), the 33rd Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Izmir (TUR) and the 45th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Nanning (CHN) are out. 

 

Establishing the starting order of competition for the qualifying rounds as well as the order in which those advancing to finals will compete, the drawing of lots was held at the FIG headquarters in Lausanne (SUI) on Tuesday. FIG President Prof. Bruno Grandi (ITA) as well as FIG Technical Committee Presidents Steve Butcher (USA, Men’s Artistic Gymnastics), Nellie Kim (BLR, Women’s Artistic Gymnastics), Natalya Kuzmina (RUS, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Horst Kunze (GER, Trampoline Gymnastics) were present for the occasion. 

 

A total of 156 gymnasts representing 62 different countries will compete at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games from August 16 – 28. On the programme are Men’s and Women’s Artistic, Rhythmic Individuals and Groups as well as Individual Trampoline, all Olympic disciplines. 

 

Record participation is also expected at this year’s Artistic Gymnastics Worlds in Nanning. With 80 countries registered, this number remains second highest to the record 84 participating nations from the 2007 Worlds in Stuttgart (GER). However, provided that the 684 registered gymnasts (378 men and 306 women) all line up in October, it will amount to the largest participation at any Gymnastics World Championships of all time. The current record, set at the 2003 Artistic Worlds in Anaheim (USA), is 585 competitors.