The 45th World Artistic Gymnastics Championships will take place on October 3 – 12, 2014 in Nanning, a city of 7 million inhabitants, located in the extreme south of the People’s Republic of China. The Chinese bid was approved by the FIG Executive Committee in summer 2011. After Tianjin in 1999, China, for the second time, is the host of the biggest sporting event of the FIG competition calendar.

The events will take place at the Guangxi Sports Centre Gymnasium, a sports complex built in 2012 which can accommodate more than 9,000 spectators. 600 gymnasts from over 70 countries are expected in China. The event will be covered by CCTV, the national television channel, exclusive partner of FIG within China and distributed worldwide.

In the country of Li Ning

Among all the right reasons to rejoice about these Worlds, there is one that the FIG and the Guangxi region particularly appreciate.

It is indeed on this land that a living legend of gymnastics, the Olympic Champion Li Ning, was born and raised. This gymnast was the revelation of the Los Angeles Games in 1984, winning a total of five medals, including three gold. In 1990, this athlete started his own sportswear business which is now known worldwide. His brand will be an official supplier of the 2014 FIG Worlds.

In Nanning, an event that Li Ning will not miss for the world that the media will cover for sure with the utmost attention, would be that of his reunion with his opponent from Los Angeles, Peter Vidmar (USA), now a member of the FIG Executive Committee!

The two men shared gold on the pommel horse and the podium of the All-around: silver for the American, bronze for the Chinese behind Koji Gushiken (JPN).

Exciting emotions guaranteed!