Female Champions Cup – Gazprom

As football to the English and hockey to the Canadians, so is rhythmic gymnastics to the Russians – an object of national pride. Russian female rhythmic gymnasts have been traditionally considered one of the most prominent athletes in World Championships and Olympic Games.

The term ‘rhythmic gymnastics’ in the Russian language was devised in the Higher School of Aesthetic Movement opened in 1934 under P. Lesgaft Leningrad State Institute of Physical Culture. From 1948 Russian championships in this kind of sport for girls have been held annually.

The first Rhythmic World Championship was held in Budapest in 1963. 15 years later Madrid hosted the European Championship, and six years after that, in 1984, rhythmic gymnastics made a debut in the Olympics program.

The present-day competitions of female rhythmic gymnasts are primarily all-around events. The classic all-around event comprises four optional routines with apparatus selected every season out of five alternatives (rope, hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon) and is the major Olympic event. Besides the all-around event, female rhythmic gymnasts compete in individual events.

Beginning from 2002 Gazprom has been the primary sponsor of the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics. The Company also supports the annual tournament Cup of Female Champions – Gazprom.