The city in Fujian Province has already hosted the 5th Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships, held in November 2012.

During the special ceremony here this morning during the Summer Youth Olympic Games, FIG President Bruno Grandi signed a contract with Putian Vice-Mayor Zhang Libing to host the 25th edition of the Championships.

They will take place on yet to be confirmed dates in March and April 2016.

Zhang Libang and Bruno Grandi were joined by Chinese Gymnastics Association President Luo Chaoyi and FIG secretary general Andre Gueisbuhler ©FIG


Acrobatics, where gymnasts work together and perform routines consisting of acrobatic moves and dance and tumbling, is one of the five disciplines in the sport and, although it is not yet on the Olympic programme, moves are already being made to widen its appeal with inclusion in the Games an ultimate aim. 

Along with aerobics, the discipline will be showcased at the Baku 2015 European Games next June, where it will be held alongside the three Olympic disciplines of artistic, rhythmic and trampoline gymnastics. 

With the Olympic programme currently up for deliberation as part of the Olympic Agenda 2020 reform process, the awarding of the 2016 Championships is another good way for the FIG to draw attention to the sport.

China, winners of the the men's group title at the 2014 World Championships in Levallois-Paris last month, are among the world's strongest acrobatics nations, and it will be hoped that home success will boost the popularity of the event in Putian.

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