The Tribune

JUST days ahead of the biggest Atlantis Crown competition to date, meet organiser Cindy Scharns forecasts that the weekend will be dominated by high level gymnastics and encouraged fans to come out.

The annual gymnastics competition, set for December 15-18 at the Atlantis resort, will feature 910 athletes from The Bahamas, United States, Canada, Panama and Suriname.

Additionally, the Region 5 Elite Ambassador Team, made up of the United States’ two top senior elite and two top junior elite gymnasts from the World Championships, will be in action. Team members Aria Brusch, Shania Adams, Shilese Jones and Gabby Perea are also seeking to bring more awareness to gymnastics in The Bahamas.

“We are excited to be returning to what we consider our second home to host the sixth annual Atlantis Crown,” Schrans said. “This year’s event has continued to grow and will boast 910 athletes representing 63 gymnastics clubs and five countries. In addition, we will feature over 78 Bahamian athletes - male and female - competing from level one thru level nine. “A special thank you goes to the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture, Gymnastics Federation of the Bahamas and the Atlantis Resort for their continued support. We encourage you to join us for a weekend of fun and high level gymnastics competition.”

This year, organisers will introduce the trampoline and tumbling competition to the line-up which also includes the beam, uneven bars and the floor routine. As a result, club participation has increased by 26 per cent.

The Bahamas will be represented by three clubs - Bahamas Star Gymnastics, Nassau Nastics and Grand Bahama Gymnastics.

Virginia Kelly, marketing director of sports tourism, said this year’s competition will go to a “whole new level”.

“The Atlantis Crown has proven to be a great addition to our annual sports tourism calendar,” she said. “Over the past five years we have seen the number of athletes almost tripled and this year, with the addition of a men’s trampoline and tumbling component, this takes the event to a new level, not to mention the growth impact on the number of room nights and the overall revenue boost.  This year we could potentially see 3,000 plus athletes and visitors.”

The special guests include Svetlana Boginskay, three-time Olympic champion and Sam Mikulak, 2012 US Olympian.