| Glasgow has won the right to host one of the most prestigious events in Gymnastics. The World Acrobatic Championships will be held at the Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena from the 3rd of October this year. More than 800 competitors from 22 nations are expected to flock to the Glasgow event with junior age groups competing for the first week and the seniors arriving for competition in the second. The World Acrobatic Championships will be followed by the Gymnastics Grand Prix which will see the city host a 3 week Gymnastics extravaganza. The World Acrobatic Championships are the first sporting world championships to be won by and staged by Glasgow since the successful bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. It will also be the biggest gathering of Gymnasts in competition since the Beijing Olympics. Britain is one of the leading nations for Acrobatic Gymnasts and the cream of home talent will face competition from countries including Russia, USA, China, Australia, Germany, France, Spain and South Africa. The gymnasts compete as part of a team in pairs, trios or fours. Acrobatics is one of seven internationally recognised disciplines in gymnastics. Steven Purcell, the Leader of Glasgow City Council said:"To bring a major World Championship event to Glasgow so soon after getting the 2014 Commonwealth Games is another reminder of how the city's reputation for staging international sports events continues to grow. Acrobatic Gymnasts from all over the world will be welcomed to Glasgow later this year for 6 days of competition which will be a great opportunity to showcase the city again to an international audience. The presence of so many international teams so soon after the Beijing Olympics can only help raise the profile of the city still further." Chief Executive Officer of British Gymnastics Brian Stocks said:“This is a fantastic result. Glasgow is a dedicated and spectacular event City, with proven expertise and, as a future host of the Commonwealth Games and other World and European events, this event will provide a unique opportunity for Glasgow to once again show the depth, calibre and unique understanding of being a World Events City. I know competitors from around the world are already looking forward to arriving in Scotland and taking part in a wonderful showcase for our sport and the city"
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Paul Bush, Chief Operating Officer of EventScotland, said: “Today’s announcement that Glasgow will host the World Acrobatic Championships is a fantastic piece of news, both for the city and the country. It’s apparent already that the benefits of winning the rights to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games are starting to bring rewards, and we look forward to welcoming one of Gymnastic most prestigious events to Scotland later this year. It provides us with a great opportunity to continue to build upon the experiences gained in this country from hosting major World Championships and adds further credibility to Scotland’s growing reputation as a destination for major events.” 
