Artistic Gymnastics World Championships to return to Liverpool in 2030 

Artistic Gymnastics World Championships to return to Liverpool in 2030 

British Gymnastics has successfully secured the rights to host the 2030 Artistic World Championship in Liverpool, marking a significant return of one of the globe’s premier sporting events to the UK. This championship will not only highlight the UK’s standing as a leading nation within the gymnastics community but also provide a vital platform for promoting well-being through sport.

The event is scheduled to be held at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, situated on the Liverpool Experience Campus, and is expected to attract over 400 of the world’s top gymnasts from 80 different countries. Spectators will enjoy thrilling competitions in front of live audiences, while millions more across over 50 countries will watch via global television broadcasts. Additionally, the 2030 championships will serve as the first qualifying opportunity for athletes aiming for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

The winning bid to host this illustrious event was a collaborative effort involving British Gymnastics, UK Sport, and Liverpool City Council, with support from the Liverpool Experience Campus team, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, and Liverpool Accommodation BID. Liverpool has become firmly established as the UK’s gymnastics hub, having hosted the 2022 Artistic World Championships and every British Artistic Gymnastics Championship since 2011. These events have reinforced the city’s reputation for delivering world-class gymnastics competitions.

Building on the success of the 2022 championships, which was widely praised as one of the best ever staged, the 2030 event aims to inspire a new generation of fans and athletes and strengthen the legacy of gymnastics in the region. Since 2022, over £17,400 has been invested across multiple partners focused on coaching development, producing 16 new instructors and nine new club-level coaches, alongside creating pathways for young people entering coaching roles. Participation in gymnastics has surged, with the City of Liverpool Gymnastics Club alone supporting 520 additional weekly participant places, amounting to roughly 25,000 visits per year. Infrastructure enhancements have improved club facilities, and community programs engage 100 to 200 additional children weekly in gymnastics activities.

Senior figures involved in the bid emphasized the event’s wide-ranging benefits. Councillor Harry Doyle of Liverpool City Council highlighted how the 2022 Championships attracted over 35,000 spectators and injected £5.6 million into the local economy, leaving a positive and lasting legacy. The return of the championships in 2030 is expected to build upon this foundation, encouraging healthier lifestyle choices through gymnastics. Sarah Powell, CEO of British Gymnastics, expressed pride in Liverpool’s selection and noted gymnastics’ power to unite communities and positively influence lives beyond the competition itself. UK Sport’s Esther Britten described the event as a thrilling opportunity to showcase the UK’s capacity for delivering world-class sports occasions and inspiring future gymnasts.

Morinari Watanabe, President of World Gymnastics, welcomed the event’s return to Liverpool, praising the city’s passionate fans and its historical significance tied to progress, expressing hope that the championships would bring renewed energy to the sport. Additional support statements came from Liverpool’s business and event leaders, including the CEO of Liverpool Business Improvement District and the Commercial Director of Liverpool Experience Campus, highlighting the economic and cultural benefits the event is expected to bring to the city.

Athlete voices also underscored the excitement surrounding the announcement. Jessica Gadirova, 2022 Floor World Champion and Olympian, reflected on the inspirational atmosphere created in Liverpool during the last World Championships and expressed enthusiasm at the prospect of welcoming the global gymnastics community back for the 2030 event, emphasizing its importance in uniting fans and motivating the next generation of gymnasts

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