October 2 - 2012 Olympic hopeful Becky Downie (pictured) has officially launched the UEG European Gymnastics Championships, which are due to take place in Birmingham next year.


Dowie, the British senior champion and her finish of 12th at the Beijing Olympics last year is the best ever performance by a British gymnast in Olympic history, is being tipped to improve on that performance in three years time at the London 2012 Olympics and is hopeful of a strong performance next year in Birmingham. 

Aged 17, she will compete on four pieces of apparatus – vault, bars, beam and floor.
 

The Championships take place at Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena from April 21 to May 2, 2010, and more than 800 of the best gymnasts on the European circuit from 40 countries are expected to be in attendance over the two weeks of competition. 

The Championships will involve men’s and women’s artistic competitions at both junior and senior level and will also act as the qualifying event for the 1st Youth Olympic Games taking place in August 2010.
 

Martin Mullaney, Birmingham City Council's Cabinet member for Leisure, Sport and Culture said: "It's fantastic that yet another major sporting event is coming to Birmingham. 

"We are proud to be welcoming the best gymnasts in Europe to the city for what will be two weeks of superb competition. 

"As we get closer to London 2012, the gymnasts will hopefully enjoy a taste of what will be coming to London in three years time."

The event is being supported by Government agency UK Sport, the country's biggest distributor of National Lottery funding, which is investing more than £20 million into events in Britain between 2006 and 2012.
 

UK Sport events consultant, Esther Nicholls, said: "We are very pleased to be supporting the European Gymnastic Championships in Birmingham.

"The event gives British gymnasts the chance to compete against the best across Europe in front of a home crowd – a valuable experience not just for them but for the officials and volunteers as well, as we countdown to London in three years time."
 

Tickets are on sale now with prices starting at £6 for adults and £3 for concessions and are available online here or by calling 08445 810 765.


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