Media guide

Welcome message FIG

Dear Gymnastics Family and Friends,

It is an honour to welcome you all to Belgium for the 52^nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. It is truly special to be back in the famous city of Antwerp, as we all remember the great FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships held here 10 years ago, in 2013.

This year more than ever, all the attention will be focused on the World Championships, as the athletes will also be competing to obtain a highly sought-after qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

I am sure that Antwerp will once again be the stage of amazing performances, and that the atmosphere will be thrilling.

On behalf of the FIG, I would like to thank the Belgian Gymnastics Federation and the Local Organising Committee for their tremendous work and excellent cooperation.

I wish everyone an unforgettable time at the 52^nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships here in Antwerp!

FIG President, Morinari Watanabe

Welcome message LOC

In 2001 (Ghent) and 2013 (Antwerp), the World Gymnastics Championships were already guests in Flanders. With pride, Gymfed, the Flemish government and the City of Antwerp join forces again 10 years after the last edition for an unforgettable sports event.

With more than 120 000 members, gymnastics is a very popular sport in Flanders in which we do very well at the top level. Our gymnasts of the Baloise team BELGYM proved this over the past years at national and international competitions. We are very much looking forward to seeing our gymnasts at work in our own country.

After the World Gymnastics Championships in 2013 and the World Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships in 2018, the Antwerp Sportpaleis will be the place to be for all gymnastics fans from September 30 to October 8. These pre-Olympic World Championships is the most important and biggest gymnastics competition in 2023. Besides the world titles, the best senior gymnasts in women's and men's gymnastics in Antwerp are also aiming for the last team tickets to the Olympic Games, which will take place in Paris (France) in 2024.

In addition to the sporting achievements, the focus in 2023, as in 2013 and 2018, will be on creating an innovative and qualitative organisation with national and international appeal and an attractive preliminary programme. We want to create a state of the art organisation within gymnastics again. We give our own athletes the opportunity to shine in front of their home crowd and aim for a unique experience for every gymnast and spectator.

We would like to invite you to the press conference on September 29 at 11:00 am followed by a welcome reception. All information to make your stay in Antwerp as smooth as possible can be found in the Media Guide.

We thank you for putting our event in the spotlight and wish you a fantastic World Championships.

General Director - Ilse Arys

About the FIG

The International Gymnastics Federation is the governing body for Gymnastics worldwide. It is the oldest established international federation of an Olympic sport and has participated in the Olympic Games since their revival in 1896. The FIG governs eight sports: Gymnastics for All, Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Trampoline - including Double Mini-trampoline and Tumbling-, Aerobics, Acrobatics, and Parkour. It counts 162 national member federations and has its headquarters in the Olympic Capital of Lausanne (SUI).

Website: https://www.gymnastics.sport
Livestream: All Gymnastics

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Event hashtags: #antwerp2023 #getmovedbymotion #ARTWorlds2023 #Antwerp2023

LOC

FIG Media & Communications

LOC Media Operations

FIG Officials

FIG Technical Committee

Men's Technical Committee and Superior Jury

Women's Technical Committee and Superior Jury

Athletes's Representatives

Event Ambassadors

More information about the Event Ambassadors programme is available at the Media Centre.

Accreditation

You can pick up your media accreditation from the Media Centre during opening hours. On 26th, you can pick up your accreditation from the training hall. Before receiving your accreditation, you need to sign FIG’s Media Declaration. Please note the FIG Media Rules have to be strictly respected at the event.

Media helpdesk

Our wonderful volunteers and staff are on hand during the opening hours of the media centre to answer all your questions and help you out in any way they can. Come and say hello!

Parking (accredited journalists & photographers)

There is a dedicated parking place close to the Sportpaleis for media: Parking Spoor Oost | Slim naar Antwerpen. This costs € 6 per parking session.

Internet

All media zones are equipped with a dedicated WiFi network. On top of that, every thrid seat in the press centre, and all photographers’ working positions, commentator positions and media tribune are equipped with LAN cables.

Lockers

Lockers are provided for photographers in the media centre. The dimensions are 45x30x45. These lockers have an electronic lock for use with a personal pin code.

Live results

Swiss Timing is the official scoring partner of these World Championships. The International Gymnastics Federation FIG provides live scoring on its website. Updates will also be posted on FIG’s social media channels.

Social media

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• X (formerly known as Twitter)

Media centre

The Media Centre forms the heart of media operations at this event. This is where you’ll find desks equipped with power cords, plugs and cables, all the necessary information about training and competition, and above all, coffee, water and snacks.

Mixed zone

Gymnasts must exit the FOP through the Mixed Zone. While there is no obligation for a gymnast to STOP for interviews, it is compulsory for them to pass through the Mixed Zone. Apart from the Mixed Zone, athletes’ interviews can be requested and held in the I-Zone, a dedicated space next to the Mixed Zone. These interviews are informal in nature and take place after the gymnast has passed through the Mixed Zone. Media may also use the I-Zone space to conduct interviews with athletes and coaches outside of post-competition times. Please use the respective form available at the media centre helpdesk in order to request an I-Zone interview with an athlete, coach, or event official.

Are you a National Federation Press Attaché? Get your Mixed Zone upgrade passes from Meike Behrensen (FIG).

Media tribune

The media tribune opens one hour before competition and closes one hour after.

Be considerate to your colleagues: leave space for everyone and keep it clean.

Address

• Antwerp Sportpaleis
• Schijnpoortweg 119
• 2170 Merksem
• Website: https://www.sportpaleis.be/en

How to get there

The Sportpaleis is the biggest and most popular venue in the country and a household name far beyond its borders. This multifunctional event hall serves for various events such as concerts, sporting events, parties and fairs. After the 2013 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, 10 years later we move back to Antwerp for the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.

Easily reachable by tram, bus, car or on foot, check the website of Smart Ways to Antwerp for all info on mobility in Antwerp and to plan the smoothest route to the Sportpaleis.

All accredited media representatives have access to the official podium training sessions on 27, 28 and 29 September. ENR card holders are accepted with cameras. The warm-up hall Is not accessible to media.

Fanzone

There will be a Fanzone which is open to the public. The Fanzone will be located in the Lotto Arena, next to the competition venue. The audience will have to go through the Fanzone to get to the competition venue. The audience will be able to play various games in the Fanzone, play sports on an exercise square, take photos at the photobooth and other fun activities. There will also be a merchandising stand and sponsor activation.

Briefing

• Briefing photographers 1: Friday 29 September 15:00 – 15:30 CET in the Media Centre
• Briefing photographers 2: Tuesday 3 October 17:00 – 17:30 CET in the Media Centre
• Briefing non-right holders: Friday 29 September 15:30 – 16:00 CET in the Media Centre

Photo vests

There are two types of photo vests. 1 for the official FIG and LOC photoraphers (pool positions) and a different colour vest for all other photographers. This will be handed out to you at the photo briefing. Should you arrive in between photo briefings, contact the Media Help Desk to get in touch with the Photo Manager. These vests need to be returned to the Media Help Desk before leaving Antwerp.

Internet drops

Tables with plugs and LAN cables are provided for photographers close to the FOP. These are intended for quick downloads during competition.

Photo of the Day

On each competition day, accredited photographers can submit their picture to enter the ‘Photo of the Day’ contest. Detailed information will be available at the Media Centre.

Rules

Access to photo positions on floor level will be managed by the photo team on a constant basis. Pool photo positions (on the Field of Play) will be assigned at the discretion of the FIG.

Catwalk

Access to the catwalk is not possible. Neither for photographers nor for remote cameras.

Remote cameras

Requests for remote camera positioning have to be filed at the Media Helpdesk at the latest 2pm local time the day before requested use.

Medal and award ceremonies

The medal and award ceremonies will be conducted on the floor exercise mat. Photographers will be escorted to the floor judges’ area by the Photo Manager assisted by media volunteers. Rights holders don’t have access as this is produced on the world feed.

The gymnasts will be required to wear their national tracksuits. The national flags of the best teams or gymnasts will be displayed on the large screen and the national anthem of the World Champions will be played.

Host broadcaster VRT/Sporza

The Belgian national TV channel VRT/Sporza provides the host broadcast services and produces the international TV feed. Bookings for right holders should be done through them/FIG.

The schedule of the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships includes 9 days of competition, kicking off with the qualifiers for all gymnasts. The qualifying rounds determine the gymnasts and teams that compete in the finals as follows:

• Team final men and women - best 8 countries
• All-Around final men and women - best 24 gymnasts
• Apparatus finals - best 8 gymnasts per apparatus

Access to training

Training hall

Address: Antwerp Expo

Jan Van Rijswijcklaan 191

2020 Antwerp

All accredited media representatives have access to the training venue before competition begins on 30 September. Present yourself with your accreditation at the entrance and our volunteers will show you the dedicated media zones.

Training schedules

Detailed training schedules are available on the FIG event website and at the Media Help Desk.

Discover all information about the championships on the FIG-microsite.

Gymnastics is all about mastering six pieces of apparatus (for men) or four pieces (for women), each one different to the next. The men require a combination of strength, mobility and coordination, while women have to show a combination of daring skills, flexibility and expressive choreography. A good gymnast has to be outstanding at all apparatus, keeping everyone challenged!

Get all details about the scoring during the competition

Get to know the gymnasts of Baloise Team BELGYM

Discover the World Champions of 2022!

For more information on each participant, check out the athlete biographies on the FIG website.

This pre-Olympic Artistic Gymnastics World Championship is the most important and biggest gymnastics competition in 2023. In addition to the world titles, the best senior men's and women's gymnasts in Antwerp are also aiming for the final team tickets to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris (France). 9 more MAG and 9 more WAG teams can secure their place during the qualification rounds. Individually, 45 places are up for grabs for both men and women through the team, all-around and apparatus ranking! Antwerp well and truly is the major Olympic qualifying event in Artistic Gymnastics.

The official Media hotel is Holiday Inn Express City Center, Frankrijklei 4-6, 2000 Antwerp. The media hotel is situated a 5-minute walk from Antwerp Central Station. Several different routes will take you to the competition hall in less than 10 minutes.

Pharmacies

Antwerp is widely served by different pharmacies throughout the city. Open during business hours mainly, there’s a designated pharmacy open 24/7.

Discover Antwerp

Step into the enchanting city of Antwerp and embark on a journey that blends history and innovation like no other. Explore cobblestone streets that whisper tales of centuries past, while vibrant boutiques and art spaces beckon to the modern explorer. Admire the timeless beauty of our city. Discover all our discounts and incentives on this page!

Discover Antwerp

Get to know Flanders

Whether in stylish Antwerp, picture perfect Bruges, the capital Brussels, best kept secret Ghent or cozy Leuven and Mechelen, Flanders is packed with heritage. That enormous legacy was built by many generations of brilliant craftsmen. The same goes for countless other fields of work. Take Flanders’ unique food and beer culture. With the same boldness our chefs and brewers keep on building new heritage.

Get to know Flanders