MATCHROOM SPORT BRING WORLD CUP OF GYMNASTICS TO THE 02

Matchroom Sport are delighted to announce the World Cup of Gymnastics will come to The O2, London on Saturday, April 8, 2017, live on Sky Sports, in an exciting new partnership with British Gymnastics.

A new venture for Barry Hearn’s Matchroom Sport, and set to feature Team GB stars such as Olympic Gold medallist Max Whitlock, the World Cup of Gymnastics sees the world’s best gymnasts invited to compete in the prestigious ‘all-around’ competition with the men battling it out over six testing apparatus (floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and the high bar) and the women competing on vault, uneven bars, beam and floor.

The event will take place at The O2 on Saturday, April 8, 2017, with the women’s competition taking place in the afternoon and the men’s in the evening session and will be broadcast by Sky Sports throughout.

The World Cup of Gymnastics was launched by Hearn, with British Gymnastics CEO Jane Allen and Team GB Olympians Max Whitlock, Nile Wilson, Amy Tinkler and Bryony Page at a press conference at The View From The Shard, London today. Bryony, who took trampoline silver, has been invited to perform during the World Cup of Gymnastics to showcase her incredible skills.

Hearn commented: “British sport is riding the crest of a wave after a quite outstanding performance at the Rio Olympics and I am thrilled to be bringing some of Team GB’s gymnastics superstars home to London for this major event. Gymnastics is something completely new for Matchroom and I cannot wait to put our unique stamp on this global event.

“The O2 is expected to sell out fast for this and I encourage all British sports fans to come and support their heroes in one of the most competitive global events on the gymnastics calendar.

“With Sky Sports adding their world-leading weight behind the event, the World Cup of Gymnastics promises to be a spectacle not to be missed.”

Max Whitlock added: “It’s amazing that gymnastics is coming back to The O2. My experiences competing there during London 2012, with the incredible home crowd support, are amongst the most memorable of my career. British Gymnastics is flying at the moment after we made history in Rio and I’m confident the British public will come out in force for this world class event.”

Jane Allen: “We’re delighted to bring this world class gymnastics event to London for the first time through the development of a new partnership with Matchroom and Sky Sports. It is testament to the huge success of our sport that we are able to stage this event and showcase gymnastics in the magnificent arena at The O2.

“British Gymnastics continues to go from strength to strength and our gymnasts’ historic achievements during Rio 2016 mean gymnastics is in demand and more popular than ever. The World Cup of Gymnastics is a fantastic competition with some the world’s best gymnasts in action.

“Having been staged superbly in Glasgow for many years in front of sold-out crowds this is a chance for even more new fans to witness our sport. Our athletes are excited to now perform and compete in London, entertaining a huge crowd in a spectacular venue.”

Tickets go on pre-sale on Tuesday, September 27 at 9am to British Gymnastics members and fans at www.worldcupofgymnastics.com, with the O2 Priority pre-sale commencing at midday on Wednesday, September 28 at www.theO2.co.uk. A further pre-sale via The O2 will take place on Thursday, September 29.

Tickets will go on general sale at midday on Friday, September 30. Prices start from £30 per session, with family tickets for the whole day available from £99. Platinum VIP packages are available from £200 per person per session. For more information, please visit www.worldcupofgymnastics.com.

The World Cup of Gymnastics in London forms part of the 2017 International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) individual all-around World Cup Series that begins in America, then travels to Stuttgart and finishes in London. Medals are handed out at each competition with gymnasts also picking up ranking points across the three events to crown the eventual World Cup series champion.

British Gymnastics is the UK Governing Body for the sport of gymnastics. It exists to support, lead and inspire all those involved or interested in gymnastics; from creating new programmes and activities at grass roots to helping the development of top-level talent and delivering world-class events across the UK. Visit the British Gymnastics website at www.british-gymnastics.org.