DOHA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- More than 500 gymnasts from 76 countries and regions will take part in the world championships here in Doha, Qatar, with Olympic places up for grabs along with 42 world championship medals.
The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) President Morinari Watanabe said: "I came to Qatar for the first time for the Asian Games in 2006. At that time, gymnastics was nothing more than flower seeds. In just 12 years since, Qatar has made the desert bloom with the flower of the world championships. A dream is not something we have while we're sleeping - a dream is something we realize."
Eight disciplines will be contested in men's division, namely Team, All-around, Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse, Still Rings, Vault, Parallel Bars, and Horizontal Bar, while six for women, namely Team, All-around, Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, and Floor Exercise.
The three medal-winning teams in the Team finals for both men and women will earn team berths directly to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo while other teams will have further chances to qualify in 2019 and 2020.
"We are thrilled and honored to provide the world's best gymnasts with the eager global media presence, optimal venue conditions and enthusiastic spectator support to make their important first strides towards the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo," said Ali Al Hitmi, Chief Executive Officer of the Local Organizing Committee and President of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation.
"We are confident that, as the competitors in Doha challenge for world titles and Olympic berths, they will inspire fans and continue to propel the sport upward."
Taking place between Oct. 25 and Nov. 3, the 48th world championships will feature 22 world and Olympic gold medalists from 13 countries and regions.
Olympic All-around champions Simone Biles of the United States and Kohei Uchimura of Japan, who were absent from the All-around finals at the 2017 World Championships in Montreal, Canada, are back this year in Doha and will share the spotlight with new world champions Morgan Hurd of the United States and Chinese star Xiao Ruoteng.
Biles is tipped to become the first female gymnast to win four world All-around titles, while six-time world champion Uchimura will be competing four events only.
