International DTB-Cup: Preview

Today, the 22nd International DTB-Cup in artistic gymnastics will start with the qualification competitions.
93 gymnasts from 32 nations will take part in this tournament of the FIG- World Cup series. After their 8th rank in the team finale at the Olympic Games in Athens the German team will now in Stuttgart be led by Germany’s rising gymnastics star Fabian Hambüchen.

Marius Urzica (ROM)

Altogether a price money of 75,000 EUR will be handed out in the finales on Saturday and Sunday.

The entry field includes numerous Olympic Champions and medalists. Valeri Goncharov (Ukraine), winner on parallel bars in Athens, is one of the top stars as well as the Romanian men’s team which won the bronze medal in Athens including Marius Urzica (silver medalist on pommel horse), Ioan Silviu Suciu (4th-ranked in the all-around) and Dorin Selariu. Another one of the Olympic medalists who takes part in Stuttgart this year is Evgeni Sapronenko (LAT, silver on vault).

Memories from Athens: The German team celebrated Fabian Hambüchen

Germany’s youngest team member and one of the fans' favourites at the Olympic Games Fabian Hambüchen has high aims on high bar and wants to tie up to his performance in Athens (7th place) and to reach the finale also in Stuttgart.

'Also at its’ 22nd time the DTB-Cup still has the same brilliance and explosiveness,” remarks head of the tournament and managing director of the local Swabian Gymnastics Federation Robert Baur. Also the ticket sale is running perfectly. “The response of the audience is, maybe caused through the Olympic Games, very good. From the overall 19,500 tickets only 3,500 for the three days are left at the moment.”

Anna Pavlova at the DTB-Cup 2003

In the women’s field the Russian team is represented by their Olympic competitors Elena Zamolodchikova, number one on the World-ranking list on vault, team bronze medalist and 4th- ranked on vault of the Olympic Games and Anna Pavlova who won bronze with the team and on vault and reached the 4th place in the all-around.
Brazil’s power girl Daiane dos Santos, current World Champion on floor, who missed the desired medal on floor in Athens certainly wants a revenge in Stuttgart.
The strong Romanian team is represented by Alexandra Eremia, team gold medalist and floor silver medalist in Athens.
Also an attractive supporting program will be presented on the 3 competition days. Among other things a coaches’ seminar will be held with about 260 participants and a youth club will be organised with about 1,200 young gymnastics fans.

Schedule:

Friday, Nov. 26th
12.15 pm: men’s qualification
5.00 pm: women’s qualification
end of the competition: c. 7.00 pm

Saturday, Nov. 27th
1.30 pm:
men’s finales - rings, pommel horse, vault
women’s finales – uneven bars, floor
end of the competition: c. 4.45 pm

Sunday, Nov. 28th
1.00 pm:
men’s finales - floor, parallel bars, high- bar
women’s finales – beam, vault
end of the competition: c. 4.30 pm

Schedule German TV (planned)

Friday, Nov. 26th 2004
SWR: “Landesschau” (6.45 - 7.30 pm) with guest Thomas Andergassen

Saturday, Nov. 27th 2004
SWR: “Sport am Samstag“ 5.00 - 5.45 pm

Sunday, Nov. 28th 2004
ARD: report within “Sportschau live“ 3.55 - 4.35 pm
ARD: “Sportschau“ 6.08 - 6.38 pm
SWR: “Baden-Württemberg aktuell“ (7.45 pm)
ARD: “Sport-Telegramm“ (7.45 pm)
SWR: “Sport im Dritten“ 9.50 - 10.35 pm – report about the DTB-Cup, Fabian Hambüchen

Monday, Nov. 29th 2004
SWR: ”Sport am Montag” 6.15 - 6.45 pm – report about the DTB-Cup