For the elite of the Gymnastics world, the big Olympic dream could begin to become a reality at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships October 23 to November 1 in the Britain's fourth largest city.
With 594 athletes representing 87 countries from Algeria to Vietnam registered to compete, the 46th edition of the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships breaks all previous records in terms of participation. During the competition, other records stand to fall as well.
The uncontested king of Gymnastics since 2009, Kohei Uchimura will seek to extend his incredible winning streak in Glasgow. The 26-year-old from Japan, already owner 16 World and five Olympic medals, has won the last five consecutive World All-around titles, in addition to the Olympic gold in 2012.
The American Simone Biles, 18, will try to become the first gymnast to win three consecutive women's World All-around titles. Russia's Svetlana Khorkina is currently the only gymnast in history to have won three World All-around golds, though she did not do it in consecutive years (1997, 2001 and 2003).
In addition to almost all 2014 World champions, a large number of 2012 Olympic gold medallists will be present in Glasgow, among them Gabrielle Douglas (USA), Alexandra Raisman (USA), Arthur Zanetti (BRA), Krisztian Berki (HUN) and Epke Zonderland (NED).
The Glasgow Worlds will be all the more suspenseful because the quest for World gold doubles as the first of two qualifying competitions for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Following the qualification competitions (October 24 for the women and October 26 for the men), the top eight teams will secure the right to send five gymnasts to compete in the team event at next summer's Olympics. Teams ranked ninth through 16th will have a second chance to qualify at the Pre-Olympic Test Event in Rio April 16-19, 2016.
For gymnasts whose nations do not advance to the Games or the Test Event, winning a medal in individual event finals October 31 and November 1 is the surest way to obtain their ticket to the Rio Games.
The SSE Hydro in Glasgow offers a unique backdrop for showcasing the performers of one of the most popular sports in the Olympic programme. A giant 230 square meter screen will put spectators right in the middle of the action, while the judges will be seated at the sides of the arena, allowing maximum visibility of the gymnasts.
The intention is to create "a ground-breaking competition for spectators," said Matthew Greenwood, competition's manager of the Glasgow 2015 Organising Committee, during an orientation meeting with the delegations.
"We all know that organising a World Championships takes an incredible amount of resources and energy. Glasgow has surpassed our expectations, and I would like to extend my thanks to the organising committee," added Nellie Kim, President of the FIG Women's Technical Committee. "Every little detail of these Championships is truly impressive, and I am sure that the experience, the effort and the wisdom put into the process of preparation will lead us all to a truly unique event."
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