Rhythmic gymnastics

Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which gymnasts perform individually or in groups on a floor with an apparatus: hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon and rope. The sport combines elements of gymnastics, dance and calisthenics; gymnasts must be strong, flexible, agile, dexterous and coordinated. Rhythmic gymnastics is governed by World Gymnastics, which first recognized it as a sport in 1963. At the international level, rhythmic gymnastics is a women-only sport. Rhythmic gymnastics became an Olympic sport in 1984, when the individual all-around event was first competed, and the group competition was added to the Olympics in 1996. World Gymnastics-recognized competitions, besides the Olympic Games, include the World Championships, continental championships (European Championships, Asian Championships, Pan American Championships, African Championships, and Oceanian Championships), and the World Cup series. At competitions, gymnasts are judged on their artistry, execution of skills, and difficulty of skills. They perform leaps, balances, and rotations (spins) along with handling the apparatus.