THE top gymnasts in the world will travel to Glasgow later this year for one of the biggest sporting events ever held in the UK.

 

It may only be six months since the city said farewell to the athletes from the Commonwealth Games but it is already gearing up for another global sporting event.

In October, the Hydro will host the World Gymnastics Championships which will see 10 days of top level competition bringing together more than 500 gymnasts from 80 nations including the USA, China, Japan and Russia.

Up for grabs will be not only the coveted title of world champion but also places at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The best gymnasts in the world will battle it out in a host of disciplines in front of capacity crowds.

City council leader Gordon Matheson is vowing Glasgow will build on its success of the Commonwealth Games and deliver the best ever World Championships.

He said: "Glasgow's Games will live long in the memory. They were the best ever Commonwealth Games and showed the world the Glasgow we all know and love.

"But 2014 was not the end game for Glasgow. The Year of Glasgow was our new base-camp. It was certainly not the summit of our ambition. And we are ready to move on.

"In fact 2015 is already being referred to as Glasgow's Year of Sport as we prepare to host Davis Cup tennis, the European Judo Championships, IPC Swimming World Championships and the World Gymnastics Championships.

"But the World Gymnastics Championships is the stand-out event this year. It will bring together the world's very best gymnasts who will all be vying for a place at the Rio Olympics.

"If you thought the gymnastics competition at last year's Commonwealth Games was good then you haven't seen anything yet.

"There will be some 500 gymnasts from an incredible 80 countries going for gold. And that includes gymnastics super powers including USA, China, Japan and Russia.

"And it's not just about becoming world champion. It is about keeping Olympic medal hopes alive.

"There will be an estimated television audience of around 800 million people. The eyes of the world will once again be on our great city and make no mistake we will deliver the best ever World Gymnastics Championships.

"Our position as one of the world's top 10 sporting cities has been built on our continued investment in world-class facilities such as the SSE Hydro and our international events programme.

"We have the track record, we have the venues and we have the desire. We will put on a show this October that will once again wow the world."

Golden girl of British gymnastics, Claudia Fragapane, who won four gold medals for Team England at Glasgow 2014 can't wait to compete at the SSE Hydro again this year.

She said: "I'm really excited about the thought of competing at the Worlds in Glasgow. It will bring back such nice memories and I can't wait to get out there and enjoy myself with the other members of the team.

"My focus will be the team event but individually I would like to finish higher in the all around."

Scotland's Daniel Purvis, who won a gold and silver at Glasgow 2014, added: "The buzz from the Commonwealth Games is continuing right into this year's World Championships. It has been fantastic and I think it will now just keep building as we get closer and closer."

For further information and ticket details visit www.2015worldgymnastics.com