... WCh TURNFEST BULLETIN No. 3:
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To the very first time the Wheel Gymnastics World Championships will held outside of Europe. The "International Wheel Gymnastics Federation" (IRV) awarded the championships for the first time at the National Wheel Gymnastics Association of the USA, supported by the American Sokol.
The organizing Committee published latest information on
 >> WCh & TURNFEST - BULLETIN No. 3 

 
The GYMmedia JOB EXCHANGE is one of the most effective possibilities of seeking and finding competent GYM coaches and professional experts for all the gymnastics disciplines, worldwide!  The main reason is:
GYMmedia is visited by tens of thousends of users, representing more than 120 countries day by day (!) and exactly by that special audience, which is needed!
** Topical Offer:

* The Danisch Club "VIK Gymnastics" in Aarhus is seeking for a men's artistic gymnastics Elite Coach but also for a women's elite coach ...
  .. full story >>

 
An unusual encounter of sporty style
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The exception gymnast Oksana Chusovitina (UZB) hit the "Terminator".

During her stay in Rio de Janeiro late April Oksana looked at a charity-show the benefit of more than 9,000 (!) poor and orphaned children, organized by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The German language facilitated the communication between the two.
The Austrian-born Schwarzenegger and the Uzbek naturalized in Germany both sought the conversation on the occasion of this event, and found it as the attached photo shows. 

 
* f i g --: First year senior Yana Kudryavtseva of Russia, the 2012 European Junior Champion on Ball, made a fantastic World Cup debut in Sofia (BUL) last weekend.
The Moscow native scored a 72.150 total in the All-around competition to defeat the home country’s Silviya Miteva (71.550) and team-mate Margarita Mamun (71.400).
Kudryavtseva also won the Gold on Hoop (18.250) and Clubs (18.300).
On Ball, 17 year old Mamun (18.150) narrowly outscored Miteva and Neta Rivkin (ISR), who tied in second place with a score of 18.100. She also won Silver on Ribbon (18.100).  .. full story >>

 
London Olympic gymnastics champ on still rings, Arthur Zanetti of Brazil, is threatening to switch nationalities ahead of his upcoming hometown Games in Rio unless the nation’s Olympic Committee is willing to invest in his sport going forward.
“When I won the gold medal in London everybody said my life was going to change, but it hasn’t changed at all,” Zanetti told the TV Globo Sunday. Zanetti won his gold in London 2012 at the rings competition over defending champion Chen Yibing of China.
The Brazilian star hopes to win on his home soil in 2016, but promises of funding have gone unfulfilled. Now he’s getting a little antsy. “I have already begun thinking about competing for another country if the opportunity arises,” Zanetti, who’s forced to share the gym with 300 other athletes, added. “I would do it with a broken heart, because I am Brazilian and I like to be Brazilian. But if another country offered me what I needed, I would go.”  .. full story >>

 
A Belorussian all-around success in a rhythmic gymnastics world cup is a very rarity event!
This created at the fourth World Cup of the season in Pesar ( Italy) Belarus Melitina Staniouta, with 70.516 points, ahead of Maria TITOVA (70.450) and Daria SVATKOVSKAYA (70,050), both from Russia. Staniouta also won with 3 handsets in the finals, only withot hoopp, which was won by SWATKOWSKAJA.

Italy won all three group competitions ...  .. full story >>

The 46 anniversary of the "International Salamunov Memorial 2013" takes place in the Slovanian capital Ljubljana, this weekend.
It is one of the most traditional event in Europe and in this year the third Challenge Cup after Cottbus and Doha.
It will be also there the emotional, big "Goodbye" of one of the great stars of international artistic gymnastics, the highbar artist Aljaz PEGAN, who created his special sault with a half rotation on high bar, wellknown as the "Pegan".
At the first final day two Greeces won gold...
After the last Sunday's final the Canadian Elsabeth BLACK was the most successfully gymnast, winning three golden medals in Lubljana (SLO)

 
For the 5th Time, the historic 35th European Championships of Artictic Gymnastics for men and the 34th Women's Europeans 2013 in Moscow, from April 17th to April 21, took place at the Olympic complex in the Russian capital as so-called "Individual Europeans", like recently in Berlin 2011, with all-around decisions and the apparatus finals.
To about 160 gymnasts from 37 European nations are on the entry list, but of whom want to participate on all-around only just over 40%! Of the approximately 90 women from 30 countries deny least 64 gymnasts the full all-around competition (over 75%).
By resigning Philipp Boy (GER) and the injured Anna Dementieva (RUS) are missing the all-around title-holder of Berlin 2011.
Apparatus Finals: Six Golden and 9 Medals for Russian Hosts
* All the information we provide on the GYMmedia ECh site, which is also supported this year by SPIETH Gymnastics again:
>> GYMmedia ECh Website 

 
* British Gymnastics ---: Whilst the senior men’s artistic team were making history at the European Championships in Moscow, the Breat Britain's Junior men’s team of Brinn Bevan, Hamish Carter, Giarnni Regini-Moran, Harry Caulwell, Nile Wilson and Jay Thompson were proving that they are the stars of the future as they dominated an under 18 four way international in Switzerland. 
British boys took the team title with 333.750 ahead of Switzerland in second (325.350), France in third (320.350) and Germany on fourth (307,500).
Great Britain’s Nile Wilson (85,900) took the top spot in the all-around competition with teammate Brinn Bevan(83,900) taking silver.
All the squad showed some outstanding individual performances. Best Swiss gymnast was Taha Serhani (83,450) on third and Anthony Randrianasolo (81,100) as the best French came on fifth place.

>> Detailed Results
 

 
In the Japanese city of Chiba were held on the weekend of the season opening as national selection competitions in rhythmic gymnastics instead. This year's main events on the plan for the Japanese rhythmic gymnasts are the Asian Championships and the World Championships in October in Kiev. This first event was won by Runa YAMAGUCHI from the renowned club AEON Club in front of her club mate Riko ANAKUBO who already bought the tickets so that both - the Continental Championships and also the World Championship in autumn. Yamaguchi said: "I've trained really hard for the requirements of the new regulation which applies to the next Olympics. For me it was the first competition of the season and yet I am a little bit sad that I still have a few mistakes."
* Reported by GYMmedia correspondent
   Takako Kobayashi  .. full story >>

 

The "Flandern International ACRO CUP" in Puurs, Belgium is one of the most important and traditional event of Gymnastics Acrobatics on a high level.

Year by year it is a special meeting point for youth, juniors and elite acrobats from many countries, to compare their performance there.

Therefore, there is always another meet many national and international champions.

The 2013 event takes place from Friday April 05 in the Sporthal De Vrijhals of Breendonk-Puurs and will end on Sunday, April 07 with the different finals of all the age groups - frm youth up to the elite category ...
  .. full story >>

 
* f i g ---: Today launched the World Cup competition at the Complexo Desportivo Municipal Casal Vistoso in Lisbon with Individual Junior performances (Hoop and Ball) and Groups in the Junior and Senior Categories. Russian junior gymnast Yulia Bravikova stood out in the competition with her two routines on Hoop and Ball, though she made a few mistakes with the ball. Tomorrow she will defend her supremacy and fight for the Gold in Clubs and Ribbon.
In the Junior Groups competition, Russia gave a flawless performance with 5 hoops and sat at the top (15.900) after the first routine.  .. full story >>

 
Neither a European Commission, the Council of the European Union nor the European Parliament have adopted an EU regulation, a helmet law for wheel gymnasts so that the actors of the upcoming 10th WHEEL GYMNASTICS GYMNASTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, which will be held in early July for the first time outside Europe, in Chicago (USA), can continue their preparation without helmets.
Conceived had this joke, the Chairman of the German Wheel Federation, Franz Obry, together with the OC director of the upcoming Worlds, Wolfgang Bientzle: They used an international training camp in Taunusstein (Germany) to the appropriate helmet-equipment, and graphics to set the scene.
Nevertheless, the first Wheel Gymnastics Worlds in the summer expected in the U.S. with voltage, but also bring an interesting premiere of the new discipline "Mono wheel" ("Cyrrad"). 

 
Also in the new year of competition in rhythmic gymnastics continues what last years was the standard: Russian top girls determine the undisputed international forefront of the Rhythmic gymnastics, including at the 27th Edition of the International Tournament of Thiais near Paris:
Russia's new star Margarita Mamun dominated the finals of all four hand apparatus and also won the all-around beforewith 71.700 points ahead of his compatriots Daria Svatkovskaya (70.417) and Alexandra Merkulova (69.616).
Best of non-Russians were Silvia Miteva (BUL, 68.517), Neta Rivkin (ISR; 68.017) and Melitina Staniouta (BLR; 67.384). Austrian Caroline Weber was seventh with 67.150. Russia almost reached nearly the maximum of medals: Only the Bulgarian Miteva defied with the ribbon from the silver medal ...  .. full story >>

 
Even in the ninth comparison between the national squads of U.S. and Germany were on the weekend in Chemnitz the guests victorious:
The USA won with 234,050 points, ahead of host Germany, scoring 210,600).
The third international match opponent, a young junior team from Romania, finished on third place, with 205,150 points.

Best gymnast in all-around was the more experienced Olympian Kyla Ross (< photo left) was with 59,300 points, followed by her compatriots Simone Biles and Margaret Nichols and by junior Bailie Key (each 58,000).
Best Romania was junior Andreea Munteanu (54,900) on 8th place, followed by the best German junior, Tabea Alt on 9th ...
* ... more on > GYMmedia Event-Website
 

 
Some 140 gymnasts representing a total of 33 different countries are registered to compete at the event that takes place for the sixth consecutive year since its launch in 2008.
After kick off last weekend in Cottbus (GER), Doha is the second stopover of the 2013 FIG World Challenge Cup series and features qualifications on Wednesday and Apparatus finals on Thursday and Friday.
Doha hosts of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation are known for top notch organisation and hospitality, which have attracted an increasing number of delegations and gymnasts to the competition at the Aspire Academy Dome. “Gymnasts like to come here because we provide them with world class facilities. They appreciate the high quality of event and hospitality that they experience here,” said Qatar Gymnastics Federation President Ali al Hitmi.
On Thursday took place the Final Day 1 in the Aspire Dome of Doha and the Challenge Cup ended on Friday, March 29 ....  .. full story >>

 
From March 21 to 24, the national and international stars of gymnastics will meet at the 37th Edition of the traditional "Tournament of Masters®" in the Lausitz-Arena of Cottbus (GER).
It is the first of the following yet another four Challenge Cups until September, which is about the individual performances of all Olympic apparatus.
The record-breaking number of registrations of 158 mal and 98 female gymnasts from 47 countries testifies to the great response of this event and shows the international significance of the Challenge Cup.
Included are the first class and top-athletes from the U.S.A., Japan, China and Russia. The German host started with some very interest new faces in the new Olympic cyclus ...
* TODAY:  Final day 2 in Cottbus


* Read more at our > GYMmedia Tournament-Website 

 
Aurelie Joly of France and Josefath Veloz of Mexico prevailed at the Women’s and Men’s Individual competitions respectively at the Aerobic Gymnastics World Cup in Aix-les-Bains (FRA) last weekend.
2012 World Championships runner-up and Aix-les-Bains title holder Joly beat 21 year old top qualifier Oana Constantin of Romania and Hungary’s Dora Hegyi to win the Women’s Final.
In the Men’s event, 21 year old Veloz outscored last year’s title holder, Benjamin Garavel of France, and Russia’s Anton Shishigin to take home the Gold.
  .. full story >>

 
* British Gymnastics --: The final day of the 2013 Men’s and Women’s British Championships saw the women battle it out in their respective age groups to be crowned individual apparatus champions, and the men battle to be event Masters.
Men's all-around winner was Max Whitlock. In the Senior women’s competition, 2013 all-around champion, Gabby Jupp continued to shine taking two more gold medals on both the floor and beam. She also took silver on the bars behind established gymnast, 2008 Olympian Becky Downie from Notts. Niamh Rippin also from Notts took the final title on the vault for the second year in a row.
The men’s Masters finals took place alongside the women’s apparatus finals. The men use their results from the all-around to crown apparatus champions within the age groups but the masters are where any of the gymnasts who competed in the Under 16, Under 18 or Senior categories are ranked together to find the top 8 gymnasts from across the board.
  .. full story >>

 
Two weeks after the first  All-around World Cup (American Cup)  the first World cup on the individual apparatus takes place in France.
Saturday, March 16, at the the qualification rounds some on the top specialists took the leed at the different apparatus:  So Russia's Ksenia Afanasyeva was the best on balance beam and also on floor exercises and the Grand Dame of international gymnastics, Oxana Chusovitina (37 years!) leads on vault and two Canadians were on top at the uneven bars: Sabrina Gill and Kaitlyn Hofland...
Jacob Dalton (USA) was the best after floor routine in front of Romania's Flavio Koczi. The others on top were Krisztian Berki (pommel horese), Denis Alyazin (RUS; rings), Yang, Hak Seon (KOR; vault), Vasileios Tsolakidis (GRE; parallel bars) and Enin Garibov (RUS; high bar).
* The Sunday final results are ...:  .. full story >>

 
On Saturday, March 9th, 2013 the USA Open Trials of Wheel Gymnastics took place at Willye White Park in Chicago.
Athletes from many parts of the United States, Canada, and Europe took part in the competition.
This event was also the national qualification for Team USA for the 10th World Championships of Wheel Gymnastics, that will take place July 8th-14th, 2013 at North Park University in Chicago.
Frank BRINKMAN from the Wheel Jam Chikago won the men's elite category with 25,75 points.
In addition, Cecile MBIDA competed and qualified for the World Championships as a member of Team France
  .. full story >>

 
Ten of the UK’s top high performance coaches have been chosen to be part of the inaugural intake of UK Sport’s World Class Coaching:
Elite Programme, and proudly amongst them is Great Britain's men's artistic national coach Eddie Van Hoof.
The ten coaches have been chosen due to their proven ability to deliver success at the highest level within the British high performance system, and will benefit from a ground-breaking three-year development programme, with an investment of approximately £20,000 per coach, per year. The Elite Programme will allow unparalleled access to world leading expertise, technology and experiences, while delivery of the programme will highly bespoke, designed to meet the needs of every individual coach and sport.  .. full story >>

 
Nothing more than the continuation of Russian dominance had been the first Grand Prix of Rhythmic Gymnastics season 2013, which took place in the "cave of the lionesses" in Moscow - expected, even if the people involved in the new Olympic cycle are different in some cases: So there was the all-around victory by Margarita MAMUN with 70.932 points and 2.7 points ahead of all the others, and three more Russians (!) came under the top six!
Only the experienced Bulgarian Sylvia MITEWA in second (68.200) - before Daria SVATKOVSKAYA (67.949) - and the White Russian Arina Charupa was fifth (64.782) could then slide in between.
<< Margarita Mamun had surprised already in 2011 with a World Cup victory in Montreal (ball) and at the final day she won three of four apparatus, Daria SVATKOVSKAYA was the sest with rippon...
  .. full story >>

 
The American Cup 2013 in Worcester (USA) opened the international artistic gymnastics season 2013. The both US world cup debutantes Katelyn Ohashi and Simone Biles won the all-around in the DCU Center in Worcester / USA. Also on men's side the victory remained with the hosts: Jacob Dalton (USA) won ahead Oleg Verniaiev (UKR), Marcel Nguyen (GER) came on third place.  .. full story >>

 
In silence and humility, and only in the immediate family and friends celebrated Johanna Quaas (87) and her husband Gerhardt their 50th Wedding Anniversary.
In order for the birthday girl should also be the world's only active gymnast who committed this rare golden wedding or during their time as an active athlete.

Not for nothing is it since September in the Guinness Book of World Records after her sensational petition exercises had caused enormous spread via Youtube (> 8 million views!) and recognized worldwide wave.
Interview requests and wishes from TV broadcasters and journalists from more than 20 countries ran towards the now 87-year exceptional athlete - from Japan, China, Scandinavia, Spain, Brazil, USA .... so that needs now special logistical structures to be fair this media onslaught.
  .. full story >>

 
After the first meeting of a German woman squad again since the political change against a USA Selection 2009 in Bergisch Gladbach, now Germany's gymnasts meet again on a selection of the best USA gymnasts in the past-Olympic year 2013, but not only that:
The city of Chemnitz  hometown of the German Vice Champion "TuS Chemnitz", and the European junior champion Sophie Scheder - will host a three-country meet on 30 March 2013, because no less than the top gymnastics nation Romania joins it!
A demanding challenge will be there for the German girls who had recently missed in London 2012 in ninth Olympic team finals by less than 4/10 points, when the Olympic Champions (USA) and the bronze squad (ROU) invite now as guests, even if the appear in a completely new composition - an interesting and high-class encounter lies ahead there! * More on > Meet of the Year: GER - ROU - USA 

 
Bulgaria's record-breaking Olympic gymnast Jordan Jovtchev mounted the rings for the last time in Sofia on Saturday, February 24 on the eve of the silver-haired athlete's 40th birthday.
At the Olympic Games London 2012 Jovtchev became the first male gymnast to compete at six Games - and he heads into retirement with three bronze and one silver medal, and a further 22 world and European championship medals.
Jovtchev made his Olympic debut at the age of 19 in Barcelona in 1992 but it took another eight years before he won his first two Olympic bronze medals on rings and floor at the age of 27 in Sydney in 2000.
Four years later he took silver on rings and a bronze on floor in Athens.
"I am tired now and I do not want to feel this pain anymore but I'll probably start to miss all this very soon," he winked. Jovtchev remains Bulgaria's gymnastics federation president, a job he has undertaken together with competing since 2008.  .. full story >>

 
Last weekend the top nation of wheel gymnastics, Germany organized its first of two national trials in preparation of the upcoming 10th WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2013, which will held in the summer in Chikago, USA.
The winner of the all-around competition was Kathrin Schad, the national vice-champion of 2012. On men's side won Christoph Clausen from Flensburg.
Best in the youth categories were the siblings Kira and Marvin Homeyer (SV Taunusstein-Neuhof).
The new discipline "Mono Wheel" saw a newcomer in the top position: Oscar Kaufmann beat the international topstar and multible world champio Robert Maaser (Strausberg)
The German athletes in this gymnastics disciplines are all top favorites for the upcoming Worlds.
The second German trial will hel at the end of March in Marburg.
* ... read more on > www.gymmedia.de  

By a decision on Friday by the Executive Committee of the International Gymnastics Federaition (F.I.G.) the 37-years old exceptional athlet Oksana CHUSOVITINA is qualified again for her native country Uzbekistan.

With the support of the Uzbek Gymnastics Federation Oksana Chusovitina made the appropriate application, which included the consent of the German Gymnastics Federation, with the intention, to start again for her orogin country, wher her unique sport career begun, nearly a quarter century before.
Chusovitina, who has a German passport since 2006, wants to start again for her native country, where her incredible career begun about a quarter of a century.

Her athletic goal is to retake the 2016 Olympics in Rio - the 7th time in a row!
That would be a unique record in artistic gymnastics...!
Her German citizenship Oksana Chusovitina but will retain.

In an interview with the leading U.S. Gymnastics Magazine "International Gymnast"  the 22-year Greek and newcomer rings specialist Eleftherios PETROUNIAS announced his coming for the World Cup at France World Cup of the post-Olympic year, and the first FIG Challenge Cup, the "Tournament of Masters" at the end of March in Cottbus.
Sensational way last November the 22-year-old Greek athlet defeated the Brazilian Olympic champion on still rings, Arthur ZANETTI, at the FIG Challenge in Ostrava with 0,025 point lead on his special apparatus, but with a difference of 0,4 points difficulty value ...

* ... read more on
> GYMmedia-Challenge-Cup Cottbus 2013

The international start into the post-Olympic season of rhythmic gymnastics is the 19th anniversary of the "International Miss Valentine Cup" in the Estonian city of Tartu.
This traditional event is the first time the status of an official World Cup Event.
Beginning on Friday evening and continued at Saturday with the both last two apparatus the Ukrainian Ganna RIZATDINOVA ends her all-around competition with the highest score of 69,282 points.On second place came Melitina STANIOUTA from Belarus, scoring 64,531 points.The third place went to the Azerbaijanian Marina DURUNDA with a score of 62,832.

At the Sunday's Final Melitina STANIOUTA (BLR) with ball (17,316 points), clubs (17,316) and ribbon (17,450) exercises.
All-around winner Ganna RiIZATDINOVA (UKR) was the best with hoop (17,850) and won also 3 three silver medals.

 
The German Wheel conquers the world!
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To the very first time the Wheel Gymnastics World Championships will held outside of Europe.
The "International Wheel Gymnastics Federation" (IRV)  awarded the championships for the first time at the National Wheel Gymnastics Association of the USA, supported by the American Sokol.
This event  will take place July 8th-14th, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois on the campuses of North Park University and North Eastern Illinois University.
  .. full story >>

 

Spain’s longtimes artistic gymnastics coach, Jesus Carballo Garcia, has been suspended following allegations from a former gymnast over “bad treatment” when she was under his guidance during the 1980s.

The decision was taken after an investigation carried out by the Superior Council of Sports (CSD), ruled that Garcia would be refused entry to the team’s training centre after an unnamed gymnast went to the Spanish authorities with her complaints.
“The CSD have taken the decision to refuse Jesus Carballo access to the the team’s training centre after learning of the complaints against him from a former gymnast over bad treatment,” a CSD spokesman said. “The case has been handed to the police and we must now wait for the conclusions,”  wrote AFP. 

 
... if not in the World Cup standings, but the World bronze medalist of 2011 and fourth placed at the Olympics London 2012, Aliya Garayeva (AZE), adopted the invitation to the first World Cup of the season to Tartu (Estonia) only in the final Gala occur - but much to the delight of the organizers of the World Cup premiere in this Nordic country.
Thus equipped, the now 25-year-old exceptional athlete who has announced her retirement from competitive sports after the Olympics, and relized this after the Aeon Cup in December 2012 and she completed now her personal thanks to the organizers of the "Miss Valentine Cup" where she many times participated.
** ... read more at
        >>  World Cup 2013 - Miss Valentine Cup 

 
In two weeks, February 8 - 10, the traditional "Miss Valentine competition" takes place in Tartu, the second biggest city of Estonia to the 19th time, already - but to the very first time in its long history as a F.I.G World Cup event.
For nearly two decades this tournament in a row some of the best gymnasts come together every year on Valentine’s day to celebrate top gymnastics. Why just on Valentine’s day? The idea to organize such a competition came to world champion Janika Mölder in 1994 and the aim was to invite friends from different countries to participate.
As St. Valentine’s Day is a day of friendship and love this festival is for people who love gymnastics.
The festivity plays an important role in bringing warmth and grace to the crisp Estonian winter and is highly appreciated by the local audience.
Miss Valentine is known for its enjoyable ambience and cheering crowd.
  .. full story >>

 
Baku (AZE), 23rd January - Mehriban Aliyeva, the wife of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, who is also president of the NOC, has been appointed Chair of the Baku 2015 Organising Committee, the organisers of the inaugural "EUROPEAN GAMES", scheduled in two years time.
The "2015 Baku European Games" were approved by the EOC General Assembly last 8th December in Rome, and will take place in early summer in 2015, when 7,000 athletes will come together to compete in 20 sports.
  .. full story >>

 

SPIETH Gymnastics is proud to announce a new sponsoring partnership with the German top-gymnast Marcel Nguyen.
The London 2012 double silver medalist is looking forward to the new partnership and stated:
“I have been training and competing on SPIETH apparatuses worldwide since the beginning of my gymnastics career, I am very happy to be partner of SPIETH!”

SPIETH sales manager Juergen Garziella said: 
 "We know and appreciate Marcel Nguyen for many years all the more we are pleased that this likeable and authentic gymnast has an international breakthrough and now enjoys a high media interest -. SPIETH for an ideal partner.
We are looking forward to working together and wish Marcel Nguyen continued. Much success in sport and health".
  .. full story >>

 
* f i g - news --: President of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF), Ali Achmad AL-HITMI, has been re-elected for another four-year term by delegates attending the General Assembly in the Qatari capital of Doha, December 25, 2012. President Al-Hitmi is a former FIG Council Member (2009 – 2012), and as of January 1, 2013 a Member of the FIG Executive Committee, following his election at the recent FIG Congress in Cancun (MEX), October 2012. The election of the QGF President to the FIG Executive Board reinforces Asian Union presence among the authorities of the international Federation; the Union is, incidentally, led by Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Shatri, also of Qatari origin. In his electoral speech, President Al-Hitmi declared his commitment to the development of gymnastics within his national federation, as well as locally and internationally.  .. full story >>