INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The acrobatic gymnasts from Australia, England, Kazakhstan, Puerto Rico and Wales who are expected to compete in the 2005 Freedom Cup, Nov. 17-19, at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex in the Landover, Md., have been announced. The U.S. Team for the three-day event will be announced on Nov. 14.
Among the competitors from Kazakhstan are the men’s pairs team of Yevgeniy Drozdov and Rafael Aliyev, who this year took third at the World Cup event in Puurs, Belgium, and fourth at the World Games in Duisburg, Germany; and Gaukhar Akhmetova and Alexandra Yenina, who were part of the women’s group that earned a bronze medal at the 2005 World Games. A complete roster of international competitors is listed below.
The Freedom Cup will feature competition in women’s pairs, men’s pairs, mixed pairs, women’s group and men’s group on both the senior and junior levels. Tickets are available on day of competition at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex. Ticket prices are: adults, $15 per day or $40 for a three-day pass; and children, $7 per day or $15 for a three-day pass; children under seven are admitted free. The schedule is: Nov. 17, 3-5 p.m., age group competition, and 6-9 p.m., Freedom Cup Opening Ceremony and competition; Nov. 18, 4-6 p.m., age group competition, and 7-9 p.m., junior and senior competition; and Nov. 19, 2-3:30 p.m., age group finals, and 4-6 p.m., junior and senior finals.
Acrobatic gymnastics features the combined beauty of dance and acrobatics. Some observers have compared acrobatic gymnastics to pairs figure skating, only without the ice. Acrobatic balances demonstrate grace, strength and flexibility, while dynamic elements demonstrate power, flight and agility. Acrobatic gymnastics’ basic elements have the same source as other gymnastics disciplines Aca a