INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 28, 2019 – For the first time since 2009, the United States is playing host to an International Gymnastics Federation World Cup event for acrobatic gymnastics. The Vegas Acro Cup, slated for March 22-24 at the Rio Hotel, Casino and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev., includes a World Cup session on each of the three days.
More than 110 athletes from 18 countries and the USA are expected to compete in the World Cup event. This prestigious international event is the second of four World Cup events in the FIG’s 2019 acro World Cup series. The Vegas Acro Cup also is staging an international invitational for 10 competition levels in conjunction with the World Cup competition.
For the World Cup, the 18 international countries include Belarus, China, Great Britain, Russia and Ukraine. Participating gymnasts can earn World Cup points based on their performances that count toward the coveted Acrobatics Gymnastics World Cup Series champion, which will be determined this fall at the conclusion of the series. Each pair or group will perform three total routines: balance, dynamic and combined.
The international invitational division has competition in 10 competitive levels, and the field of more than 1,300 is expected to include gymnasts from four countries. The levels are Junior Olympic Levels 6-10; age-groups 11-16 and 12-18; junior; and senior. The international invitational begins on March 21, wrapping up on March 24. The number of routines performed by each pair or group depends on the level in which they compete.
Acrobatic gymnastics combines the beauty of dance with the strength and agility of acrobatics. Routines are choreographed to music and consist of dance, tumbling, and partner skills. At the elite level, each pair or group performs a balance, dynamic and combined routine. Pyramids and partner holds characterize the balance routine, while synchronized tumbling and intricate flight elements define the dynamic exercise. The acrobatic gymnastics events are: men’s pair, mixed pair, women’s pair, men’s group and women’s group. An acrobatic gymnastics pair consists of a base and a top. A women’s group is comprised of three athletes – a base, middle and top partner – while a men’s group has four athletes, a base, two middle partners and one top partner.
For more information about the Vegas Acro Cup World Cup and international invitational, visit the official website, www.vegasacrocup.com.