Published: Wednesday, March 14, 2012, 1:21 p.m.
Q&A: What to expect at gymnastic championships
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The 2012 Kellogg's Pacific Rim Championships, one of the largest international gymnastics competitions ever held in the Puget Sound area, begins its three-day run Friday at Everett's Comcast Arena.
If you love gymnastics, or if you like watching it every four years in the Olympics, or even if you're just curious to see some of the world's most remarkable athletes, this is an event you won't want to miss. And with the 2012 Summer Olympics just a few months away, the Pacific Rim Championships will be the chance for a sneak peak at some of the gymnasts who are headed to London.
Here's an overview of what to expect:
1. What exactly are the Pacific Rim Championships?
The Pacific Rim Championships are a major international competition held every two years. The inaugural event, known then as the Pacific Alliance Championships, was held in 1988 in Chengdu, China.
It has been held previously in the United States three times -- Honolulu in 2004 and 2006, and San Jose, Calif., in 2008.
The competition includes men's and women's artistic gymnastics, men's and women's trampoline, and women's rhythmic gymnastics.
For many of the competing teams, this will be the final international competition before the Olympic Games in London. The Americans, though, have two other major events before the Olympics -- the Visa Championships (the U.S. national championships) in early June and the U.S. Olympic Trials in late June and early July.
2. Which countries will be competing in Everett?
The event is open to member nations of the Pacific Alliance of National Gymnastics Federations (PANGF). The 17 countries expected to send gymnasts to Everett are Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Philippines, Russia, Thailand and the United States.
3. How many athletes will compete?
More than 200 male and female gymnasts are expected. The United States will have a full team of 26 gymnasts. Other large contingents are expected from Australia, Canada, China and Japan.
4. Will we see the best athletes from all these countries?
Some of the world's top gymnasts will be in Everett, but others will not for various reasons, mostly injuries. For example, reigning Olympic gold medalists Shawn Johnson (balance beam) and Nastia Liukin (all-around) are bidding to be on the U.S. team in London but are not expected to compete in Everett.
Still, it's safe to say that many London-bound athletes will be in Everett.
5. What events will be contested?
The Pacific Rim Championships will be much like an Olympics. The artistic gymnastics competition for men and women will be held in Comcast Arena and will include the still rings, pommel horse, floor exercise, vault table, parallel bars and high bar for men; and the balance beam, floor exercise, vault table and uneven bars for women. There also will be team and all-around competitions for men and women.
The trampoline team and individual competitions, and the rhythmic team, all-around and individual event finals will be held at the Comcast Community Ice Rink.
6. How did Everett land this event?
USA Gymnastics, the governing body for gymnastics in the United States, was looking for a host city for this year's Pacific Rim Championships and visited Everett in February of 2010. Visits also were made to other candidate cities before it was decided that Everett would be the choice of USA Gymnastics.
Several factors worked in Everett's favor. First, the city's chances were certainly enhanced by its successful hosting of Skate America in 2008. That was the first major international event held at Comcast Arena, and the city and the venue both came away with high marks.
Also, the Pacific Northwest has a large number of gymnastics clubs, which translates into a large number of gymnastics fans. In addition, it made sense to host these championships in a city that is literally on the Pacific Rim.
Lastly, USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny grew up in the Seattle area (he attended the University of Washington and once worked for the Seattle Mariners), so he certainly had a personal interest in seeing the championships end up here.
Cities in other countries also were under consideration, and PANGF officials made the final decision. The awarding of the event to Everett was announced last September.
7. I'm not sure I can make it to Comcast Arena for the event. Will it be televised?
Yes. NBC will televise the Pacific Rim Championships, with Friday night's events (women's artistic team and all-around) being replayed at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
8. Are tickets still available?
Yes, although some price ranges have few tickets remaining.
Single-session tickets are $15-$65 and all-session tickets are $110-$250. They can be purchased at the Comcast Arena box office, at www.comcastarenaeverett.com, or by calling 866-332-8499.
If you love gymnastics, or if you like watching it every four years in the Olympics, or even if you're just curious to see some of the world's most remarkable athletes, this is an event you won't want to miss. And with the 2012 Summer Olympics just a few months away, the Pacific Rim Championships will be the chance for a sneak peak at some of the gymnasts who are headed to London.
Here's an overview of what to expect:
1. What exactly are the Pacific Rim Championships?
The Pacific Rim Championships are a major international competition held every two years. The inaugural event, known then as the Pacific Alliance Championships, was held in 1988 in Chengdu, China.
It has been held previously in the United States three times -- Honolulu in 2004 and 2006, and San Jose, Calif., in 2008.
The competition includes men's and women's artistic gymnastics, men's and women's trampoline, and women's rhythmic gymnastics.
For many of the competing teams, this will be the final international competition before the Olympic Games in London. The Americans, though, have two other major events before the Olympics -- the Visa Championships (the U.S. national championships) in early June and the U.S. Olympic Trials in late June and early July.
2. Which countries will be competing in Everett?
The event is open to member nations of the Pacific Alliance of National Gymnastics Federations (PANGF). The 17 countries expected to send gymnasts to Everett are Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Philippines, Russia, Thailand and the United States.
3. How many athletes will compete?
More than 200 male and female gymnasts are expected. The United States will have a full team of 26 gymnasts. Other large contingents are expected from Australia, Canada, China and Japan.
4. Will we see the best athletes from all these countries?
Some of the world's top gymnasts will be in Everett, but others will not for various reasons, mostly injuries. For example, reigning Olympic gold medalists Shawn Johnson (balance beam) and Nastia Liukin (all-around) are bidding to be on the U.S. team in London but are not expected to compete in Everett.
Still, it's safe to say that many London-bound athletes will be in Everett.
5. What events will be contested?
The Pacific Rim Championships will be much like an Olympics. The artistic gymnastics competition for men and women will be held in Comcast Arena and will include the still rings, pommel horse, floor exercise, vault table, parallel bars and high bar for men; and the balance beam, floor exercise, vault table and uneven bars for women. There also will be team and all-around competitions for men and women.
The trampoline team and individual competitions, and the rhythmic team, all-around and individual event finals will be held at the Comcast Community Ice Rink.
6. How did Everett land this event?
USA Gymnastics, the governing body for gymnastics in the United States, was looking for a host city for this year's Pacific Rim Championships and visited Everett in February of 2010. Visits also were made to other candidate cities before it was decided that Everett would be the choice of USA Gymnastics.
Several factors worked in Everett's favor. First, the city's chances were certainly enhanced by its successful hosting of Skate America in 2008. That was the first major international event held at Comcast Arena, and the city and the venue both came away with high marks.
Also, the Pacific Northwest has a large number of gymnastics clubs, which translates into a large number of gymnastics fans. In addition, it made sense to host these championships in a city that is literally on the Pacific Rim.
Lastly, USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny grew up in the Seattle area (he attended the University of Washington and once worked for the Seattle Mariners), so he certainly had a personal interest in seeing the championships end up here.
Cities in other countries also were under consideration, and PANGF officials made the final decision. The awarding of the event to Everett was announced last September.
7. I'm not sure I can make it to Comcast Arena for the event. Will it be televised?
Yes. NBC will televise the Pacific Rim Championships, with Friday night's events (women's artistic team and all-around) being replayed at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
8. Are tickets still available?
Yes, although some price ranges have few tickets remaining.
Single-session tickets are $15-$65 and all-session tickets are $110-$250. They can be purchased at the Comcast Arena box office, at www.comcastarenaeverett.com, or by calling 866-332-8499.
Story tags » • Gymnastics
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