The Tribune

A GROUP of 416 female gymnasts between the ages of 16 and 18 and representing five countries will compete at the 2013 Atlantis Crown Invitational Women’s Gymnastics Competition, to take place December 12-15.

The event, the organisation’s third competition in the Bahamas, will kick off with an official opening ceremony on Thursday December 12 at 7.30pm in Atlantis’ Imperial Ballroom.

The competitive events will begin on December 13 in the Imperial Ballroom and take place daily. Said to be the largest gymnastic competition in the Caribbean, the organisers said it has continued to grow each year.

Returning countries include the United States and Trinidad and new this year Puerto Rico and Grand Cayman will send teams.

Once again the Bahamas will be represented, with 80 gymnasts from four clubs competing. The Bahamian gymnasts hail from Bahamas Star Gymnastics, Nassau Nastics, Georgia’s School of Dance and Grand Bahamas Gymnastics.

This year’s event will be highlighted by the attendance of Svetlana Boguinskaia, three times Olympian with five Olympic medals, who will be available for autographs and meet and greets.

“We are excited, to be returning to what we consider our second home, to host the 3rd annual Atlantis Crown, “said Al Scharns, who with his wife Cindy have co-ordinated the event over the past three years.

The two are co-owners of Branch Gymnastics & KidsSports USA, Detroit, Michigan.

Also attending this year’s event will be Dusty Ritter, USA Gymnastics Men’s JO programme co-ordinator.