Did you know that group exercise competitions were not immediately included in the Summer Olympic Games program?Rhythmic gymnastics was first presented at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. It was an individual tournament.Group athletes made their debut at the Games only after three Olympic cycles — in 1996 in Atlanta. Spanish gymnasts became the first Olympic champions in the team all-around. The Bulgarian team took second place, the Russian team took third.The Russian team was represented by Irina Dzyuba, now a coach at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy, Evgenia Bochkareva, Angelina Yushkova, Olga Shtyrenko, Yulia Ivanova and Elena Krivoshey.<a href="https://skygrace.ru/en/news/est-vopros/interesnye-fakty-kakoy-predmet-poyavilsya-v-hudozhestvennoy-gimnastike-ranshe-vseh">Interesting facts: which appeared in rhythmic gymnastics first?</a>

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Group exercise competitions were not immediately included in the Summer Olympic Games program.

Interesting facts: when did group exercises become part of the Olympic Games program?

All performances of gymnasts at the international tournament Sky Grace Cup can be watched in real time on the website skygrace.ru.

The competition will be held in Doha from November 20 to 22. The tournament program includes performances by individual athletes (seniors and juniors) and group athletes (seniors only).

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Sky Grace

All performances of gymnasts at the international tournament Sky Grace Cup can be watched in real time on the website skygrace.ru.

Live broadcast of the Sky Grace Cup 2024 tournament from Qatar on the website skygrace.ru

Judge Marta Rostoburova explained the distinctive features of Sky Grace International Clubs Association rules.<blockquote>"Interesting rules, very understandable for gymnasts and very clear for judges. In favor of gymnasts, because we are largely seeking after over-stretching, we are seeking after big amplitudes. And this is a plus for gymnasts that they are indeed endeavoring and working on that. My gymnasts were indeed looking forward to this competition. This is the great event for us, for Qatar, because such a large-scale competition is for the first time held in this beautiful hall. This is superb!"</blockquote>The specialist also shared with us how she had taken the examination to qualify for the Sky Grace Cup international tournament in Doha.<blockquote>"Naturally, I applied as the judge for this competition and tried to pass the examination, because there was such a program for all the judges this time, so that we passed the examination in the first instance. I worried a bit actually but we coped with that."</blockquote>Marta Rostoburova from Qatar is for the first time working as the judge at tournaments of the Sky Grace International Clubs Association.

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The judge from Qatar is for the first time working at the Sky Grace International Clubs Association tournaments.

Judge Marta Rostoburova from Qatar told us about her work at the Sky Grace Cup in Doha

The Sky Grace Cup international rhythmic gymnastics competition is being held in Doha from November 20 to 22.Gymnasts from 25 countries will compete for 14 medal sets at the tournament. More than 100 gymnasts will perform with individual routines under the senior and junior programs and group exercises will be present for the first time.Many participants were preparing for the competition in the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy, where the Olympic champion personally worked with them on elements and programs.See the REN TV news story about all of this.

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The Sky Grace Cup international rhythmic gymnastics competition is taking place in Doha from November 20 to 22.

The Sky Grace Cup international tournament kicked off in Doha. A news story by REN TV

Before the start of the international Sky Grace Cup competition Jimena Dominguez from Venezuela shared her expectations.<blockquote>"I got used to the gym, it is very beautiful. I loved the decorations and it's very big. And I'm very happy to be here, thank you to International Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs Association for helping me do my programs for this competition," she said.</blockquote>The gymnast also thanked the Academy coaches who helped her prepare according to the rules of the International Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs Association. &nbsp;<blockquote>"The Sky Grace coaches and judges helped me redo all my programs according to the Sky Grace rules. And we choreographed a completely new rope routine, which I will be performing on Thursday," Jimena said.&nbsp;</blockquote>At the international Sky Grace Cup competition, Jimena Dominguez represents Venezuela and performs as part of the juniors program.

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At the international Sky Grace Cup competition, the Venezuelan gymnast performs according to the juniors program.

"I'm happy to be here!" Jimena Dominguez talks about the Sky Grace Cup in Qatar

Gymnasts from Kazakhstan perform in the individual program and in group exercises at the Sky Grace Cup international tournament.Coach Ekaterina Panchenko from Kazakhstan shared her expectations from the competition before the start of the Sky Grace Cup international tournament in Doha.<blockquote>"I would like in the first instance to thank organizers and personally Alina Kabaeva for the invitation to our participants from our country, from Kazakhstan. My girls and I are for the first time taking part in competitions of the Sky Grace International Clubs Association. And when such an opportunity was given to us, we started preparing with pleasure. Gymnasts from Kazakhstan, our decent pretenders, members of the national team of the Republic of Kazakhstan took place in all competitions of the Sky Grace International Clubs Association."</blockquote>The professional also assessed development prospects of the Sky Grace International Clubs Association.<blockquote>"The more countries will participate, the higher the level will be. And there are more countries therefore at this competition. More and more countries will come and support this tournament, being aware of the level of holding, knowing judging, and knowing Alina Kabaeva personally. For example, we will come to such competitions with pleasure."</blockquote>Gymnasts from Kazakhstan perform in the individual program and in group exercises at the international tournament in Qatar.

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Gymnasts from Kazakhstan perform in the individual program and in group exercises at the Sky Grace Cup international tournament.

"We will come to such competitions with pleasure!" Coach Ekaterina Panchenko from Kazakhstan talks about the Sky Grace Cup

All the performances of gymnasts in Doha can be watched from November 20 to 22 not only on our website but also on the Match! Arena TV channel.Watch the continuation of Juniors’ individuals, the most important performances in the all-around, individual finals of seniors along with group exercises and the gala concert on November 21 and 22 on the air with the Match TV.<h3>Match TV broadcast schedule (Moscow Time):</h3>November 21 16:45-18:45;November 22 09:55-11:10; 13:30-16:10; 18:00-18:50.

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All the performances of gymnasts in Doha can be watched from November 20 to 22 not only on our website but also on the Match! Arena TV channel.

Performances of gymnasts in Doha can also be watched on Match! Arena and Match TV channels.

Group exercise gymnasts from Kazakhstan came to Qatar to the Sky Grace Cup international tournament together with coach Meruert Balginbaeva.The professional shared her emotions from the arena in Doha during floor testing.<blockquote>"We are in the fairytale. We look at the design; indeed there will be an eastern fairytale. We have come at the invitation of Alina Kabaeva. Certainly, we were very happy. We are working under rules that are slightly different but we were ready to revise the program for such big, major competition."</blockquote>She told us about programs of her trainees that will perform on the closing day of the competition.<blockquote>"I have brought group exercises. Five hoops and a mixed type — ribbons with balls. The hoops are stronger because the ribbon is always insidious; it may tie in a knot. The smallest breath of wind may change the ribbon path, and our hoop performance is therefore more stable. Everything being done for the benefit of children, for the benefit of rhythmic gymnastics is always good."</blockquote>Kristina Shepulskaya, Madina Myrzabay, Jasmine Junusbayeva, Aida Hakimjanova, Aizere Kenges, and Aizere Nurmagambetova are members of the group exercise team from Kazakhstan that will perform in Doha on November 22.

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Group exercise gymnasts from Kazakhstan came to Qatar to the Sky Grace Cup international tournament together with coach Meruert Balginbaeva.

"We are in the fairytale!" Coach Meruert Balginbaeva from Kazakhstan speaks about the Sky Grace Cup

Cheng Xiyuan from China shared impressions from the Aspire Dome arena in Doha at the Sky Grace Cup international tournament.<blockquote>"I am fond of the atmosphere of this competition. Furthermore, I certainly have the opportunity to learn something new from good athletes. I really liked to be in Qatar, it is beautiful here. Certainly, I would hardly have an opportunity to experience Qatar unless the opportunity to come to this competition. I am looking forward to my performance to be better than last time."</blockquote>The Sky Grace Cup is being held in Doha from November 20 to 22. Cheng Xiyuan participated in the Sky Grace 2023 competition in Beijing.

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The gymnast from China shared impressions from the Aspire Dome arena in Doha after the floor testing.

"I am fond of the atmosphere of this competition!" Cheng Xiyuan talks about the Sky Grace Cup in Qatar

On November 22, the group members of the Jinmanxing Rhythmic Gymnastics Club from Liaoning Province will perform according to the seniors program.The international tournament Sky Grace Cup in Doha was attended by a threesome from China under the guidance of coach Ma Qianhui.The specialist told about the preparation for the competition:<blockquote>"I like everything very much, it's very nice here. Last year in Beijing, we were spectators, and now we are participants, we are very happy. As for the group exercises, there were no difficulties. As for individual exercises, a jump rope appeared here, so there was a certain difficulty. But all the same, these are very good rules for the development of female athletes."</blockquote>She also noted the contribution of the International Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs Association to the development of rhythmic gymnastics in the world:<blockquote>"International Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs Association has given a huge boost to the development of rhythmic gymnastics in all countries, to every club. And now it’s taking it to a higher level."</blockquote>The group members of the Jinmanxing Rhythmic Gymnastics Club from Liaoning Province will perform according to the seniorok program on November 22.

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On November 22, the group members of the Jinmanxing Rhythmic Gymnastics Club from Liaoning Province will perform according to the seniors program.

Ma Qianhui, the coach of the group team from China, spoke about the preparation of the team for the Sky Grace Cup

Gymnasts of the group exercises team from China Wang Xinqi, Sun Yumen, Liu Xinyi, Wang Yangaoqing, Zhao Wangch shared their expectations before the Sky Grace Cup in Qatar:<blockquote>"The competitions are organized at the highest level. Very beautiful. All the gymnasts who take part in the competition are great. Of course, we will worry and worry during the performance. But we will try to do our best to perform as well as possible."</blockquote>Within the the Sky Grace Cup tournament, which will be held in Doha from November 20 to 22, group exercises competitions will be held for the first time.

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For the first time, group exercises competitions will be held in Doha as part of the Sky Grace Cup tournament.