SOFIA, July 28, 2022 - As the curtain rises on the 2022 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships on 14-18 September in Sofia (BUL), a gymnast from Germany will be the first to grace the carpet. The draw for the 39th edition of the Rhythmic World Championships, which sets the competition order, was held at FIG Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI) on 21 July. Hence the yet-to-be-named German will lead off with the Hoop on the first of five days of competition.

Much is at stake in Sofia. In addition to nine World titles — in five individual and three Group events, plus a team title that takes both individual and Group results into account — six tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are up for grabs. Medallists in the individual All-Around final and Group All-Around competition will earn quota places for their nations to compete in Paris. These spots are non-nominative, meaning national Olympic committees can decide on the gymnast or Group members to represent the country at the Olympics.

The lion’s share of Olympic berths will be distributed at the 2023 World Championships, with the 2024 continental championships rounding out the Olympic rosters.

A 62-NATION FIELD Gymnasts from more than 60 nations are expected to gather in Sofia in September for the World Championships that will set the table as the runup to the Paris Olympics begins. For the first time this year, gymnasts have had to qualify to compete at the World Championships through their respective continental championships. Individuals from 61 nations — 38 European, 12 Asian, six American, three African, and two from Oceania — have earned the right to send at least one individual to the World Championships, and all of them are expected in Sofia. Click here to see the qualifiers.

Groups are not subject to the same restrictions. One Group per nation may compete at the World Championships without having to go through continental qualification. Thirty-one Groups, representing all five continents, have registered to compete in Sofia.

WORLD MEDALIST VLAINOVA AS FIG AMBASSADOR Competition in the Bulgarian capital is expected to be fierce, as a raft of seasoned veterans clashes with exciting newcomers in pursuit of the nine World titles. One familiar face will be present in a new role: 2016 Olympian Neviana Vladinova (BUL), who helped Bulgaria earn team silver at the World Championships in Sofia four years ago, will be the FIG Ambassador at the event: “To be an ambassador for something, you have to understand why it's important. As I know what the social significance of Rhythmic Gymnastics can be, I am proud to be the ambassador for the World Championship in Sofia,” Vladinova wrote this week.