Penza, 28 April 2012. PenzaNews. The opening ceremony of the World Cup stage for Rhythmic Gymnastics was held in the Palace of Sports “Burtasy” in Penza on Saturday afternoon, April 28. “We were lucky to watch a great performance of gymnasts. I know that much attention is paid to gymnastics in Penza, and “Burtasy” also shows this. It is wonderful that more than 2 thousand children can practise at this sports complex,” said Maria Gigova, a member of the Technical Committee on Rhythmic Gymnastics of International Gymnastics Federation, during the opening ceremony.

© PenzaNewsBuy the photo

She wished Penza gymnasts to join the Russian national team and become Olympic champions later.

Irina Viner-Usmanova, President of the Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics said that competitions of such a high level are held in Penza because even in Moscow there are no such great conditions as in Penza.

“I know that the coaches and judges are delighted with the sports complex established in Penza. Here, in the region, there are all conditions for the athletes to become champions,” the famous coach said.

In turn, Governor Vasily Bochkarev said that he was proud of his countrymen, and of the fact that such competitions took place in Penza.

“We were preparing to this for a few years. Of course, it required resources, both material and human, as well as support in the person of Irina Alexandrovna. We got a great holiday of Gymnastics and saw the most beautiful girls of the world,” the head of the region said.

“Today everyone understands that sport has no future without the support. Therefore, we intend to develop sports centers and we will also prove that Penza has a proud sound,” concluded Vasily Bochkarev.

Then Russian anthem was heard and the organizers of the competition presented gifts to the athletes. Also, representatives of the ministry of sports and tourism of the Russian Federation and Artistic Gymnastics Federation congratulated Vera Shtelbaums, the merited coach of Russia on her jubilee.

The choreographic chorus “Venzelya” and the students of the Penza School of Gymnastics performed at the end of the ceremony.

World Cup stage for rhythmic gymnastics in individual and group exercises is held in Penza for the first time. Representatives from 23 countries take part in the competitions. Previously, competitions of such a high level in Russia were held only in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The competition is the final stage of preparation of the Russian team for the Olympic Games in London. In addition, the selection of gymnasts to the European Championship 2012 will be done on the basis of the results of this competition.

The best Russian athletes of the current rating of the International Gymnastics Federation — Eugenia Kanaeva, Daria Kondakova, Daria Dmitrieva, Alexander Merkulov and others take part in this competition.

Representatives of teams from Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, Vietnam, Georgia, Germany, Egypt, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, China, Korea, Latvia, Poland, USA, Turkey, France and other countries also arrived in the Palace of Sports “Burtasy.”