The Flanders Sports Centre was the venue for the 35th World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Six days of events brought over fifty countries and over four hundred and forty competitors to be judged on the new F.I.G code. A new competition format did at times leave some confusion with the audience and a loss of symmetry on the arena floor when at times rotations were signalled to start but warm ups on other apparatus were still in continuance. I understand that this was an effect of facilitating the needs of the TV coverage.

Our group of five spectating gymnasts and four adults witnessed mens & womens gymnastics of the highest calibre. The mens overall championship offered true drama when not one but two Americans, Sean Townsend and Paul Hamm, were in contention for medal positions whilst also offering some exciting gymnastics in what proved to be an open field. On the last, and telling rotation, both gymnasts met their 'Waterloo' at high bar; allowing a strong, stylish, confident and very young Chinese star, Jing Feng, to rise and take the ultimate accolade of World Champion. In the womens event Elena Khorkina offered experience and consistency in return for her ultimate reward of Womens Champion.

The event only being a stones throw away from our shores was a must for officials, coaches, gymnasts and general followers of our sport. Indeed I met many international; national and even local friends and gymnasts. Our five traveling gymnasts were able to see the cream of their sport up close; they have returned informed, motivated and inspired.

Experience has taught me that all too often our young gymnasts do not know the current stars and championships of their sport, one in which they spend a lot of their time; they can, nonetheless, reel off football league champions, tennis stars, athletes and various other sporting names and heroes. One of the many unwritten features of our job as coaches officials and guardians of our sport is to maintain and pass on the enthusiasm and addictions of our sport through enriching the knowledge of our charges. Whether this is done by travelling to events; attending training camps; fostering friendships and competitions with foreign clubs; watching videotaped events; is a matter of choice. The age range of our gymnasts was from 9-17years and for four of them it was the first of many offerings that the City of Birmingham GC will provide in their gymnastics education.