Antwerp, Valencia, Birmingham to host 2023 Gymnastics Worlds, offering passage to Paris Olympics

ST.PETERSBURG (RUS), FIG Office, 3 May, 2019:

The FIG Council awarded the 2023 World Championships in Artistic, Rhythmic and Trampoline Gymnastics to the respective host cities of Antwerp (BEL), Valencia (ESP) and Birmingham (GBR) at its meeting in St Petersburg, Russia on Friday. These World Championships, the last before the 2024 Olympic Games, will constitute the major qualifying event for the great global showpiece in Paris.

Earlier this week, the FIG Executive Committee had named the host cities for events in two other disciplines – the 2020 Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships, which will take place in Baku (AZE), and the World Gym for Life Challenge 2021 in Lisbon (POR).

52nd Artistic Gymnastics World Championships - 2023

ANTWERP, BELGIUM

The Flemish city occupies a special place in the history of Gymnastics since it was in Antwerp that the sport’s very first World Championships took place in 1903. One hundred and twenty years later, the ‘City of Diamonds’ will host its third Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, which will take place at the Sportpaleis in late September/early October 2023.

"On the back of the fantastic results obtained by Belgian gymnasts at the World Championships in Doha, we are ready to organise a top-class World Championships in the birthplace of Nicolas Cupérus, the founder and first president of the International Gymnastics Federation," said Lode Grossen, General Director of the Royal Belgian Gymnastics Federation.

40th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships - 2023

VALENCIA, SPAIN

For the first time since 2001 the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships will return to Spain, which has already hosted five previous editions, but never before in Valencia. The Valencia Expo will provide the setting from 4-10 September 2023.

"Rhythmic Gymnastics is the sport with most female participants in Spain. This discipline produces a lot of passion and emotion, as we’ve seen at different Championships and World Cups and we’re convinced these World Championships will be a great success with the public," said Jesus Carballo, President of the Royal Spanish Gymnastics Federation.

37th Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships - 2023

BIRMINGHAM, GREAT BRITAIN

Britain’s ‘Second City’ has twice before welcomed the Trampoline World Championships – in 1988 and 2011 – and it will take charge once more of staging this event for Gymnastics’ high-fliers at the Birmingham Arena complex from 9-12 November 2023. This will be followed by the World Age Group Competitions from 16-19 November.

Jane Allen, the CEO of British Gymnastics, said: "These World Championships will help us to promote gymnastics and in particular Trampoline sports in the UK to inspire the next generation of gymnasts."elp

16th Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships - 2020

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN

The Azerbaijani capital has become a key venue on the Gymnastics calendar. Between the 2019 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships and the 2021 Trampoline Worlds, Aerobics will take centre stage at the Milli Gimnastika Arenasi from 14-16 May 2020. These World Championships will be preceded by the World Age Group Competitions from 8-10 May.

Between organising numerous World Cups and European and World Championships, the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation has a packed programme, as its President, Mehriban Aliyeva, underlined: "All of this shows the extent to which gymnastics is an incredibly popular sport in our country. These World Championships will contribute to its different disciplines progressing and developing further here in Azerbaijan."

4th World Gym for Life Challenge - 2021

LISBON, PORTUGAL

From 13-17 July 2021, the capital of Portugal will resound to the rhythm of this Gymnastics For All event, which takes place every four years. Groups from across the whole world will be able to present performances which will be judged on two aspects – originality and creativity. The Altice Arena will provide the main stage for the festivities which will leave a vibrant footprint on other districts of central Lisbon too.

Carlos Castro, Lisbon’s deputy mayor who is tasked with overseeing sport in the city, said: "Lisbon will be the European Capital of Sport in 2021 and for us, this event fits in with our goal of promoting sport right throughout that year. Beyond the competition in the main hall, we wish to stage activities in various squares around the city in order to involve the general public and help spread the values of sport."

About the FIG: The International Gymnastics Federation is the governing body for Gymnastics worldwide. It is the oldest established international federation of an Olympic sport and has participated in the Olympic Games since their revival in 1896. The FIG governs eight sports: Gymnastics for All, Men's and Women's Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Trampoline - including Double Mini-trampoline and Tumbling -, Aerobics, Acrobatics, and Parkour. It counts 148 national member federations and has its headquarters in the Olympic Capital of Lausanne (SUI).

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only