(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
More than 240 gymnasts will feature in the 10th edition of the FIG ART World Cup, the highest number of entries in the event's history, a top official confirmed yesterday.
Gymnasts from Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Algeria will also join athletes from hosts Qatar at the March 22 to 25 event, Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) President Ali Al Hitmi said.
"As of now, with 22 days to go before the event, we have confirmed entries from 31 countries," Al Hitmi said.
"The Organizing Committee expects the highest number of gymnasts to feature in the 10th edition," he added.
"This time around, we will have an extra day of competition so that the participating gymnasts can rest before their finals," Al Hitmi said.
"Given what we have achieved by hosting the past nine editions of the FIG World Challenge Cup, by staging gymnastics workshops in the presence of FIG experts and by welcoming various countries for training camps, QGF is clearly making Doha the gymnastics capital of the region," Al Hitmi said
Last month, Great Britain's men's gymnastics squad spent more than a week training for next year's FIG World Championships to be held in Doha.
Eddie Van Hoof, coach of Great Britain's men's artistic gymnastics team, last month said: "We wanted to come down here and experience the facilities. That's part of our long-term plans considering that the 2018 World Championships will held here. We wanted to have a feel of the environment and the country in general so that when we come here, we get a familiar feeling (in 2018)."
He added: "The hospitality has been fantastic. The food has been great. We are very comfortable. Gymnasium and facilities (are) first-rate. Everybody is going away with a good experience."
Al Hitmi said QGF is planning to use the 10th edition of the event as a prep tournament for next year's World Championships. "You will see a huge number of volunteer at this year's event and they will get first-hand preparation as Doha gets ready for next year's FIG World Championships,"Al Hitmi said.
The QGF President said Qatar is leading the way for gymnastics fans around the region.
"The distinct change in this year's edition will be the participation of gymnasts from five Arab nations including Qatar, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Algeria," Al Hitmi said.
"We have laid the groundwork for gymnastics to be taken seriously around the region," he said.
"We are pleased to inform that more and more countries are sending their gymnasts to our annual event," Al Hitmi said.
"I have come from an FIG meeting in Laussane, Switzerland. I was there as an Executive Committee member. There were a number of issues discussed about Doha's readiness for next year's World Championships," he said.
"When we stage top events, the sport benefits and the young players benefit. We are happy to play our role in this development," Al Hitmi said.
Al Hitmi informed that Abeer Ali Abdullah Albuainain, the Assistant Secretary General, QGF, will be the Tournament Director for the third consecutive year.
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