The biggest gymnastic extravaganza comes to Doha when the Aspire Academy dome will host the first Artistic Gymnastics World Cup Series from March 4 to 6. The event will see participation of 109 male and 29 female gymnasts from 38 countries. The gymnasts will be participating in individual events like floor exercises, vault, pommel horse, uneven bars, rings, balance beam and parallel bars.
Croatia's Robert Seligman, France's Yann Cucherat in parallel bars, Greece's Dimosthenis Tampakos, a Olympic gold medalist, Italy's Igor Cassina, Japan's Hiroyuki Tomita, Netherlands' Lambertus Van Gelder in ring, Germany's Oksana Chusovitina and Tunisia's Wajdi Bouallegue are some of the top gymnasts who will be seen in action during this three-day event.

Speaking to media persons on Saturday Dr. Michel Leglise , Vice-President Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) said: "It's FIG's goal to take this sport beyond traditional countries like Japan, Italy, France, USA and Germany. The Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) President Abdul Rahman al Shathri has always been in the forefront of taking the cause of gymnastics forward.
"It was his idea to host this event in Qatar. The event will help the growth of the sport in the country and the region." The tournament is six of total series being held every year by FIG. Doha meet assumes importance in view of it being first of the series for 2008. The Vice-President of QGF Ali Ahmad E al Hitmi also welcomed all the participants to this World Cup Series event.
Qatar's gymnasts ready for action
Home team's Nasser al Mahmoud who will be participating in events like pommel horse, floor exercise and vault is seeing this event as preparatory ground for tougher competitions ahead. "We will get a chance to compete against some of the top gymnasts in the world. The event will help us to learn a lot from them. I will also try to qualify for the finals. It will be tough ask but I plan to give my best shot during this event."
Mahmoud al Sa'adi, too, looked ready for the big event. "I'm training hard. I am just waiting for the action to begin," he said.
Meanwhile gymnasts from Japan and Australia have already started their training sessions in the Aspire Academy. The coach of Australian team Vladimir Vatkin said: that Australian team will be represented by three gymnasts and it would be a nice and great experience for all three of them in Doha championship.

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