LAUSANNE (SUI) FIG Office, July 19, 2011: The FIG and the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation have signed an agreement that will see Ukraine play host to the 32nd Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in 2013. It will be the first time that Ukraine has staged such a prestigious event.
The FIG President, Professor Bruno Grandi, and the President of the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation, Igor Korobchinsky, hailed the decision to award the championships to a country that boasts such a rich Gymnastics tradition and which has long been one of Rhythmic Gymnastics’ leading lights.
Ukraine has, in fact, produced numerous champions, largely thanks to its celebrated school founded and led by Albina Deriugina and her daughter Irina, who was herself the All-around world champion in 1977 and 1979.
One of the world’s best rhythmic gymnasts today, Anna Bessonova, is a graduate of that school. Meanwhile, yet another former Ukrainian champion is Elena Vitrichenko, who was trained and coached by her mother Nina, an official FIG expert who passed away last year. Vitrichenko has helped to deliver success for Ukraine at both the World Championships and the Olympics.
The 2013 World Championships will take place from 14-24 September at the 6,500-seater Palace of Sport in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital.
Draw for Montpellier 2011
The draw for the 31st edition of the Rhythmic World Championships took place recently at the FIG headquarters, with the FIG President himself on hand to oversee proceedings.
Montpellier 2011 will be particularly significant for two reasons, as it will first serve as the first of two qualification routes to the 2012 Olympics. The 15 best individual gymnasts in the All-around and the six best groups overall will book their tickets to London! The competition will also qualify the gymnasts for the World Games to be held in Cali (COL) in 2013 and featuring Gymnastics with its Rhythmic individuals, Trampoline synchro, Aerobic and Acrobatic Gymnastics.
Competition for places will be fierce, and each of the events in Montpellier will attract large crowds of spectators lucky enough to lay their hands on the much coveted tickets. The organisers say that tickets for the finals are already sold out.
There will be a second opportunity to secure qualification during the Olympic trials, which are scheduled to take place at the North Greenwich Arena in London on 16-18 January 2012.