The World Artistic Gymnastics Championship has begun in Indonesia, marking the first time a Southeast Asian nation has hosted the event. The 53rd Artistic Gymnastics World Championship officially kicked off in Jakarta, Indonesia on Sunday at the Indonesia Arena. This marks the first time Indonesia or any other Southeast Asian country has hosted the event. The competition will run until October 25 and will feature athletes from over 70 countries, with a focus on individual performances rather than team competitions.
At the opening ceremony, Ita Yuliati, the chairman of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), expressed pride in the gathering of 427 of the world’s finest athletes. She highlighted that a total of 77 countries will participate in the championship. For several athletes, the event marks their first major international appearance in four years, and for some, it is their first World Championship in their career.
Notable athletes such as Olympic medalist and World and European champion Angelina Melnikova have not participated in a major competition since 2021. She expressed her amazement at the design of this year’s event and the friendliness of the people at the championship. Lyudmila Roshina, the holder of the Strongest Athletes Cup and a national champion, also expressed her excitement, noting that it is her first World Championship and that the atmosphere is wonderful.
Athletes have praised the organization and design of the event, with Leila Vasileva, a BRICS Games champion, commending the arena’s unique orange-pink color theme. The men’s qualification rounds began on Sunday and will continue alongside the women’s competition through October 21. The men’s and women’s all-around finals are set for October 22 and 23, respectively, followed by two days of apparatus finals on October 24 and 25, when the individual event champions will be crowned.
The event is expected to be a significant milestone in the global gymnastics calendar, showcasing Indonesia’s ability to host such a high-profile international competition. The participation of athletes from around the world underscores the global reach and appeal of gymnastics, reinforcing the event’s status as a premier sporting event.