As one of the A-level competitions overseen by the international governing body of gymnastics (FIG), the World Cup competition series represents an elite international competition, second only to the Olympic Games and World Championships. The competition is also recorded in the FIG yearbook. The official name of the competition is the “FIG World Cup Gymnastics” or “FIG World Cup Gymnastics Qualification Competition.” Participating athletes will receive world ranking points and current world rankings will be included with the official event results (posted to the official FIG website).

　　The FIG World Cup Gymnastics Series in China is the highest level international artistic gymnastics competition to be staged in China since 1999. The competition attracts athletes from over 30 countries, who compete in six men’s categories: floor exercise, vault, rings, parallel bars, horizontal bar and pommel horse; and four women’s categories: vault, floor exercise, balance beam and uneven bars. The winners are crowned according to the single– rank point system, which also provides key weight in qualification for the World Cup Finals.

　　Since 2006, the WCG series has taken place in China and attracts attention from the country’s major media outlets. The Chinese have achieved great success with the Chinese women’s team winning gold across all contested women’s events and the Chinese men’s team earning top honors on the pommel horse and parallel bars. Team China achieved more even success winning 9 gold medals in 10 categories. 　

　　This year the event will move from Shanghai to Tianjin and the 2008 Olympic Sequence Draw Ceremony will be held during the competition period. Spectators are sure to be treated to an even more exciting Bank of China FIG 2008 World Cup Gymnastics.