Mexico topped the rankings at the Seniors’ Group Qualification in their routine with 5 Hoops on Day 1 of the 9th Aphrodite Cup. The Mexicans amassed 35.100 points to lead the race for the gold medal in the Groups All-Around, while hosts Greece, who made their official debut for 2024, lie in second place with 33.600 and Kazakhstan is third with 32.050.
A total of 280 gymnasts from 32 countries are taking part at the Aphrodite Cup which started on March 15 and will conclude on March 17 at the Faliro Olympic Indoor Hall. The event works as the perfect warm-up tournament for the upcoming FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup first leg which is due to take place at the same venue between 22-24 March.
Action for Groups resumes on Saturday (16 March), with the 3 Ribbons + 2 Balls routine. The Group Apparatus Finals will take place on Sunday (17 March).
The Aphrodite Cup is for all European teams that have not yet qualified for Paris 2024, the first step towards Olympic qualification. The remaining Olympic tickets will be up for grabs at the European Championships in Budapest, at the end of May.
In Junior competition 103 gymnasts performed their routines with the Hoop and the Ball in the morning session of Day 1 and had the opportunity to show off their skills. Clubs and Ribbon routines await juniors on Day 2. Their scores during the two days of competition will decide the final classification in each of the two age groups (14y, 15y).
At the Opening Ceremony of the 9th Aphrodite Cup, the President of the Organising Committee, Eleni Michopoulou stated: “I welcome you to this year’s event that takes place 20 years after the fully successful Athens Olympic Games that highlighted the capacity of the Greek community and sports society in staging such large-scale events.
“We are grateful because we have the opportunity to welcome here in Palaio Faliro great gymnasts from 32 nations who will highlight the value of sport and fair play as well as the beauty of rhythmic gymnastics with their unique routines. The Organising Committee has made tremendous efforts to bring an astonishing result, hoping to meet everyone’s expectations.
“I want to thank the Mayor of Palaio Faliro, Giannis Fostiropoulos, the President of the Hellenic Gymnastics Federation, Athanasios Stathopoulos and the Vice-President, Irini Aindili for their support and contribution in all these years. I would also like to thank the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, the General Secretariat for Equality & Human Rights, the General Secretariat for Equality, the Greek National Tourism Organisation and the Hellenic Public Properties for their help and support“.
The President of the Hellenic Gymnastics Federation, Athanasios Stathopoulos commented: “On behalf of the Federation, I welcome the gymnasts from all countries who honour us with their presence, the Mayor of Palaios Faliro, Giannis Fostiropoulos for his valuable contribution and our volunteers. I am sure that all participants will offer us a unique spectacle and will draw useful conclusions ahead of the Olympic Games.”
The Mayor of Palaio Faliro, Giannis Fostiropoulos, declared the Aphrodite Cup open and added: “I would like to welcome you to the Olympic Municipality of Palaio Faliro. Many years ago, Mrs Eleni Michopoulou planted the seed of rhythmic gymnastics here and nowadays. rhythmic gymnastics is amongst the most popular sports in Palaio Faliro.
“During the Aphrodite Cup and the World Cup, the global family of gymnastics will be in our country, in Athens, in Palaio Faliro. Nothing would have been possible without the cooperation of the Hellenic Gymnastics Federation, the Armonia club, and the Municipality of Palaio Faliro without the volunteers and all the people who are working for the success of the Aphrodite Cup.”
The 9th Aphrodite Cup is being held by the Gymnastics Club Armonia and is co-organised by the Hellenic Gymnastics Federation and the Municipality of Palaio Faliro, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, the General Secretariat for Equality & Human Rights, the Region of Attica and the Greek National Tourism Organisation, with Institutional Supporter the Public Real Estate Company (ETAD) SA.
Communication sponsors of the event are the national TV (ERT) and Radio (ERASPOR) stations. The event is supported by the environmental organization Institute Team for the World Environmental Alliance 2004+, promotes the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, and is included in the B’ tier of the Green Sports League certification system.
The competition programme of the weekend is as follows:
Saturday, March 16
08:30 – 16:25: Juniors’ Individual Competition, 2nd leg (Clubs, Ribbon)
16:30 – 17:00: Group Juniors’ Competition, 2nd leg (5 Hoops)
17:05 – 17:30: Group Seniors’ Team, 2nd leg (3 Ribbons / 2 Balls)
17:40 – 23:35: Seniors’ Individual Competition, 2nd leg (Clubs, Ribbon)
Sunday, March 17
13:00 – 14:35: Juniors’ Individual Competition Finals: Hoop, Ball
13:00 – 14:35: Seniors’ Individual Competition Finals: Hoop, Ball
14:40 – 15:15: Group Juniors’ Competition Finals: 5 Pairs of Clubs
15:20 – 15:50: Group Seniors’ Competition Finals: 5 Hoops
16:00 – 17:35: Juniors’ Individual Competition Finals: Clubs, Ribbon
16:00 – 17:35: Seniors’ Individual Competition Finals: Clubs, Ribbon
17:40 – 18:15: Group Juniors’ Competition Finals: 5 Hoops
18:15 – 18:45: Group Seniors’ Competition Finals: 3 Ribbons / 2 Balls
18:50 – 19:50: Award Ceremonies
19:50 – 20:05: Gala
20:05 – 20:20: Closing Ceremony