Olympic, Paralympic logos announced

Tokyo 2020 have today unveiled the logos for the Olympics and Paralympics, entitled “harmonised chequered emblems” which organisers claim reflect the spirit of the Games. …

Inside the Games

Tokyo 2020 emblem

Some will like the elegant simplicity. I find them pretty dull and uninspiring.

My favourite was Barcelona.

1992-Barcelona-Summer-Olympic-Logo

The first Tokyo I like better.

1964_Tokyo_Summer_Olympics_logo

more historical Olympic logos

gymnasts qualifying for Tokyo Olympics

International Gymnastics magazine posted a summary of how Artistic gymnasts will be invited to the 2020 Olympics.

It’s a condensed version of this FIG document.

The_official_logo_of_Tokyo_2020_Olympic_GamesThe main criticism online so far is a reduction of team size from 5 in Rio to 4 in Tokyo.

On the other hand, some top teams like USA will most likely have 6 women in Tokyo rather than only 5 in Rio. The additional two could qualify as specialists. UPDATE – Cordelia clarifies that up to two additional could qualify as specialists or in the AA.

Under the new system Iordache (for example) would already have qualified to Olympics based on her top 3 finish at Worlds 2015. That’s an improvement.

World Cups will be improved. And Continental Championships will become much more important. When is the North American Continental Championships, by the way? 🙂 UPDATE – Cordelia believes the PAGU (Pan Am) Championships will be used for all of the Americas.

Specialists may decide to stay longer in the sport. Berki, for example, might continue to 2020.

It looks like the Olympic Test Event will no longer qualify any competitor. It will be strictly a rehearsal for the Organizing Committee.

Overall the new system looks like an improvement to me. Leave a comment if you foresee unintended negative consequences.

One thing everyone can agree upon is that Artistic Gymnastics should have more spots at the Olympics. It’s one of their highlight sports. I doubt that will happen until some of the Summer Olympic sports are moved to the Winter Olympics to better balance the two.

Amy Tinkler – double double

New Bars dismount.

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEbSBFOyQdu/

(via IrishDaniel)

OGK (Belgium) crowdfunding for a new Gym

Belgium is doing fantastic things in Gymnastics. Right?

The women’s teams qualified to Olympics Rio. And the men were close.

Not all the clubs in Belgium are thriving. Oefening Geeft Kracht Duffel (OGK) is still set-up, take-down.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Here’s the kind of facility they ideally need.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

OGK has two initiatives to help raise €50.000  for equipment.

  1. crowdfunding campaign (donations)
  2. #ogkchallenge – like the ice bucket challenge but with Gymnastics skills.

Video yourself doing Gymnastics. Post it online with the tag #ogkchallenge. Challenge at least 3 friends.

video your gymnastics

I’ll link to any amazing (or hilarious) videos produced. 🙂

Quadruple amputee trampolinist Izzy Weall

The Olympic Swimming Test Event was followed immediately by the Paralympic Swimming Test Event.

Gymnastics sports are not in the Paralympics.

Izzy Weall could be.

Click PLAY or watch her on YouTube.

crime in Rio

One of the Australian Men’s judges reports that a friend had sunglasses pulled off his head in Rio. The cyclist – realizing they were prescription – tossed them back on his return.

Crime in Rio during the Olympics is a real concern.

On the bright side, there are very few mosquitos near the venue … at least in April.