Bend in the Weather

Melbourne is currently hosting the 2005 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Artistic Gymnastics is the form of gymnastics where competitors compete on various pieces of apparatus and are judged by a score of 10.0.

You will see competitors on the Vault, Pommel Horse, Uneven and Parallel Bars, Rings and Balance Beam.

The event runs from 22/11 - 27/11. Channel Seven are telecasting the event from tonight until Sunday night at 8:30pm. (though Sunday starts an hour earlier).

Those in Melbourne can also benefit by viewing the competition live by purchasing tickets at Ticketek. Ticket prices are quite modest and is a good lead-up for many prior to the 2006 Commonwealth Games that are being held also in Melbourne.
The event is being held at Rod Laver Arena (used most often for the Australian Tennis Open), so viewing should be quite good from all angles.

Australian's are sports made, and Melbourne, Victoria is the capital for sporting events. (They also hold the Australian Grand Prix, Australian MotoGP, Australian Golf Open, The Melbourne Cup and the AFL Grand Final, also hosts the MCG and Telstra Dome stadiums).

Melbourne is the perfect city for me. I'm a mad sports nut and it's fantastic to get out to some of these events.

If you can't get to the event, make sure you check in and watch some of the Gymnastics. These dedicated athletes are bound to leave you speechless as the pull off performances and feats you didn't think was humanly possible!

I marvel at the endurance and strength as well as agility that these athletes bring. It's also important to remember that most of the female competitors are quite young with several only teenage girls.
The stress and nerves competing at the highest level at such a precise sport is also astounding.

Good luck to all athletes and hope it's a successful event for each competitor!