Gymnastics Coaching.com

(via The Liukin)

Worlds 2014 host Guangxi Sports Center is incredible. It looks more like an Olympic venue than a Worlds site.

One challenge. Toilets in Japan are ultramodern. But here at the Guangxi, they are all holes in the ground. Lucky we are gymnasts. 🙂

960 volunteers, most of whom speak English, enthusiastically try to help visitors in every way.

Details are first class. And if you get jetlagged in the middle of the day, lie down in the Quiet Room.

Men have their first training on the AAI competition equipment tomorrow.

In case you are worried about unusual Chinese cuisine, turns out, we won’t starve. 🙂

How’s this for gymnastics history?

41yr-old coach Svetlana Boguinskaia stretching 39yr-old Oksana Chusovitina.

//instagram.com/p/tb03hnQ5f7/embed/

(via Rewriting Russian Gymnastics)

The favourites.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

via @ArabianPF_blog

I don’t see how you can argue that a headscarf is a hazard in basketball. 😦

International Basketball does not allow them.

Members of Qatar women’s basketball team walk off the court after withdrawing ahead of their match against Mongolia during the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, on September 24, 2014

(AFP Photo/Karim Jaafar)

Qatari women’s basketball team withdraws from Asian Games over headscarves

Pretty gymnastics, of course.

Not super consistent in the training hall. But they look far more relaxed than normal for this stage in the game.

The biggest surprise for me today was watching Japan on Beam. Solid. Strong. Good difficulty.

Watching team USA on Beam today in the training hall was, as usual, impressive. I saw only one fall. Very few wobbles. So disciplined. They do look unbeatable as a team.

Russia has arrived. I’ve not seen them yet, but preparation went well.

Rewriting Russian Gymnastics – ‘We were pleasantly surprised’ – Rodionenko, Alfosov on final preparations for Nanning

Click PLAY or watch new team member Alla Sosnitskaya training Cheng vault on YouTube.

The story of 2 sisters with 1 dream, Becky and Ellie Downie. Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Great Britain.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (27min)

Media does not get access to the World Championships venue until September 28th, but we’re already anticipating a fantastic competition.

The airport is ultramodern, upgraded 2012.

Advertising for the competition is everywhere throughout the city. The budget, like this mascot, must be HUGE.

October 1st is National Day, celebrating the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. It’s the start of a week long festival. Flags decorate the streets.

Facebook, YouTube, Google and Twitter are blocked but my websites are working. I’ll get a VPN unless the media centre provides open internet. I’m assuming they will.