The grace, strength and skill of Olympic gymnasts have been astonishing audiences since the Games in Ancient Greece, where Gymnastics was regarded as the perfect symmetry between mind and body. The best known of the three Gymnastics disciplines, Artistic Gymnastics is always among the most popular competitions at the Games.

[Photo/Agencies]

Competition dates:

July 28 – Aug 7

Competition venue:

North Greenwich Arena

Number of medal events:

14–men's individual apparatus (Floor, Pommel Horse, Rings, Vault, Parallel Bars, Horizontal Bar), women's individual apparatus (Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, Floor), as well as Individual All-Around and Team competitions for both men and women.

Number of competitors:

196: 98 men and 98 women

Each country is limited to five men and five women

History of Gymnastics at the Olympic Games

The term Artistic Gymnastics was first used in the 19th century. Between its appearance at the Athens 1896 Games and the 1920s, the event evolved into what we recognise as modern Gymnastics. The men's individual apparatus and Team competitions first appeared at the Paris 1924 Games; a women's Team event was introduced in 1928, with women's individual apparatus competitions added in 1952.

The basics

Along with events to find the best teams and the best all-around performers, gymnasts battle for gold on individual apparatus.

Scores are given by a panel of judges, taking into account the degree of difficulty and the quality of the execution. Strength, flexibility and balance are keys to success in this breathtaking and hugely competitive sport.

Competition format

The Olympic Artistic Gymnastics competition has four phases: qualification, Team final, Individual All-Around final and individual apparatus finals.

All gymnasts compete in the qualifications. The best eight teams then go through to the Team final, where three team members compete on each apparatus. Teams are ranked on their total score.

The best 24 individual gymnasts (maximum two from each country) go through to the Individual All-Around final, where gymnasts compete on all apparatus. The best eight gymnasts on each apparatus (maximum two from each country) go through to the individual apparatus finals.

Each apparatus is judged for difficulty and execution, with the highest scoring athlete the winner.

Officials

The jury is made up of nine judges, who look at difficulty and execution, deducting marks for penalties.

Keys to success

Although they make it look effortless, gymnasts need incredible strength, control and balance, combined with speed in the Vault. The winning gymnasts will be daring and ambitious – attempting moves that are guaranteed a high score for difficulty if they can be executed to perfection.

Judged against such exacting criteria, the smallest extra step, wobble, misalignment or mistake in a routine can make all the difference. Gymnasts must not lose concentration for a moment.

Jargon buster

All-around – competitions that feature a variety of different elements (six for men, four for women).

Balance Beam – a single beam, 5m long and 10cm wide, used exclusively in women's competition.

Rings – two rings, each with an internal diameter of 18cm, are suspended 280cm from the floor. Rings are used exclusively in men's competition.

Podium – the raised competition area.

Vault – the vault is 120cm long and 95cm wide, and is set at a height of 135cm (for men) or 125cm (for women).