What is Gymnastics, Rules, History, tournaments, events, measurement.

Updated on January 27, 2022
by Tiwari Academy

Gymnastics is an attractive, fascinating and popular sport. The word ‘Gymnastics’ is derived from the Greek Word Gymnus, which means ‘Naked body’. The exercises performed by hunk body is called gymnastics. These exercises used to be done for the health of the body.

Rules for Playing Gymnastics as Sports

History of Gymnastics

Gymnastics is an ancient and basic sport. Johann Guts Muths (1759-1839) who is known as the great grandfather of Gymnastics, introduced it into the Persian schools. It can be said that Germany rediscovered Gymnastic and owing to that the International Gymnastic Federation was formed in 1881. The first competition of gymnastics was held in Germany in 1884. It was included for men in the first modern Olympic Games which were held in Athens in 1896. Gymnastics for women was included in the Olympic Games in 1928. It was included in Asian Games in 1974 in Teheran Asian Games. The first World Cup of Gymnastics was introduced in 1975.

Measurements and specification of equipments

A. Equipments for men

Equipment	Measurement
Floor	12 m × 12 m

Parallel Bars

Equipment	Measurement
Length of bars	3500 mm
Width of bars	420-520 mm
Height of the bar	1750 mm

Horizontal Bar

Equipment	Measurement
Diameter of bar	28 mm
Length of bar	2400 mm
Height of the bar	2550 to 2700 mm
Diameter of uprights	54 – 60 mm
Diameter of tension wire	5–6 mm

Vaulting Horse

Equipment	Measurement
Height of vaulting horse	1350mm
Adjustable steps in the intervals	50 mm
Length	1600 mm

Roman Rings

Equipment	Measurement
Diameter (grip)	28 mm
Height of stand from floor	5500 mm
Length of leather straps	700 mm
Thickness	4 mm
Inside diameter of ring	180 mm
Height of the ring from floor	2500 mm
Width	35 mm

Pommel Horse

Equipment	Measurement
Length of Pommel Horse	1600 mm
Width of Pommel Horse	350 mm
Height from the floor	1100 mm
Height of Pommel	120 mm
Distance between Pommels	400-450 mm

Equipments for women

Equipment	Measurement
Floor	12 m × 12 m

Vaulting horse

Equipment	Measurement
Height of Vaulting horse	1250 mm
Adjustable steps in the intervals	100-150 mm
Length	1600 mm

Balancing Beam

Equipment	Measurement
Length of beam	5000 mm
Width of beam	100 mm
Height of beam	1200 mm
Adjustable steps	700 – 1200 mm

Uneven Bars

Height of the bars from floor	2300 mm and 1500 mm
Length of uneven bars	2400 mm
Distance between bars	580-900 mm
Diameter of uprights	50-60 mm
Thickness of uprights	30 mm

General Rules

Gymnasts present themselves to a judge before and after the event. They start their exercise when the signal is given to them. If during the exercise, they fall, they have 30 seconds to remount and continue.
Gymnasts are not allowed to leave the arena during competition without permission.
Women compete in four artistic events i.e. vaulting horse, uneven bars, balancing beam and floor exercises. Men compete in six artistic events i.e. floor exercises, vaulting horse, pommel horse, roman rings, horizontal bars and parallel bars.
In team competition 6 gymnasts of each team perform a compulsory and an optional exercise on each apparatus. Five highest scores are added to get the team total.
A gymnast must wear proper attire. He may wear bandages and slippers or socks. He/she must begin the exercise within 30 seconds once he/she is given signal. On the horizontal bar and roman rings, a coach or another gymnast may assist a gymnast into a hanging position.
Breakdown of points are given below: