Weak really, those who signed themselves into the winner lists, weak also the World Cup points that were given in the always more meaningless ranking lists...
All the more one must value the coming
B-World Cup in Cottbus, which even though the "big names" are missing, 23 guest nations actively acknowledged.
The Lausations have honestly worked for and earned their name as fantastic hosts since over 3 centureis. But even they don't have an answer for the question,
"Quo vadis, Weltcup".
The changes that were announced to take place as of 2011 by the FIG unfortunately came years too late for the practise.
They also seemed to be half hearted from the beginning, bridle the horse from the back:
Instead of testing the entire system of the international competition rhythmisation for it's integral parts, to find new order, also in an arrangement of meaning "from top to bottom" - starting from the given Olympic 4 year frame around the world - to the continental championships -
Wolfgang Willam Boss of the competitions commission, assigned from the FIG with this problematic said to us
"I know about this problematic but I thought to myself: let's just start first with the World Cup system..."!
It is not known, whether one undertakes such thoughts from the beginning with the UEG and the other continental federations, or (again) chooses the FIG- solo route as a draft...!?
(* See also our GYMmedia-article to the international competition rhythmisation: "How many champions does the world need?") At the latest, when one in due time has established the 100th champion at World and European Championships in the new century, one will realise that one needs more complex solutions for the international calendar!
The resourceful Swiss with their "
Swiss Cup" have long gone other ways and have had gymnastics before a full hut, also the Japanese (Japan-Cup) and US-Americans (American Cup) organised their own invitation competitions as they pleased.
Also Cottbus will have to come up with something!
* GYMmedia INTERNATIONAL
E. Herholz