FIG president Morinari Watanabe believes a profitable World Championships has helped rework gymnastics ‘from sport to leisure’ as he hailed Liverpool’s internet hosting of the competitors.

Nine action-packed days of competitors noticed the host nation obtain their greatest ever Worlds medal haul, Jessica Gadirova’s beautiful flooring gold on the final day taking Great Britain’s tally to 6.

And Watanabe believes that is simply the beginning for the game with Paris 2024 looming ever nearer on the horizon.

Giving his ultimate handle, he mentioned: “The organising committee has created a wonderful stage and a wonderful Worlds.

“The Beatles created a brand new music scene. Liverpool World Championships turned gymnastics from sports activities to leisure this time. It is the beginning of the brand new gymnastics scene.”

The Championships saw the welcome return of spectators for the first time since 2019 due to the pandemic, with over 35,000 tickets sold to the M&S Bank Arena and sell-out crowds for the final weekend.

The home fans were given plenty to cheer, Great Britain becoming the only nation to qualify both men’s and women’s teams for Paris while Giarnni Regini-Moran became his country’s first men’s floor world champion.

Gadirova’s triumph made her the second British woman to win women’s floor gold at this competition and the first, Beth Tweddle, relished seeing the action unfold in her role as an ambassador.

“I knew it was going to be particular, however the outcomes we have seen, the crowds, the noise, the occasion ambiance, we actually have had a present right here in Liverpool and town has actually embraced the occasion,” she said.

“We knew the British group would get actually nice house help, however as quickly as any athlete stepped onto the rostrum, the noise was so loud.”

Eight 2020 Olympic and World champions reinforced their dominance to claim 18 medals, Hashimoto Daiki collecting an all-around gold to back up his Olympic triumph from Tokyo, as well as triple silver across team, floor, and high bar.

And away from the main arena, a fan zone received 18,500 visits from both spectators and non-ticket holders across the nine days of competitive action to help engage a new generation of gymnastics fans.

Claire Lewis, Chair of the World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022 said: “Alongside wonderful performances, we consider we’ve taken the spectator expertise to the subsequent degree, delivering an immersive and inclusive expertise for these each acquainted and new to the game of gymnastics.

“We are confident that this event will leave a legacy that inspires the city to continue the story of the championships, through local communities, schools, athletes, coaches, and the volunteer workforce.”

Liverpool is gearing as much as host one other world occasion subsequent yr when Eurovision rolls into Merseyside and town’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy, Councillor Harry Doyle, believes this has proven what they’re able to.

“The World Gymnastics Championships 2022 has exceeded all our expectations,” he mentioned.

“Audiences from across the world descended on the city and were treated to the most incredible, warm Liverpool welcome, and as always, the city really basked in that limelight as the competition was beamed out to a global audience.

“The ardour, pleasure and power was clear from the outset and preliminary suggestions from gymnasts and guests has been overwhelmingly constructive.”

The World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022 was one of many largest worldwide sporting occasions ever to be held within the metropolis. Over 500 gymnasts from greater than 70 international locations competed on the M&S Bank Arena from 29 October to six November 2022.

Sportsbeat 2022