City’s Gymnastics World Cup to be screened on BBC

COVERAGE of this month’s Gymnastics World Cup in Birmingham will be broadcast live after the BBC signed a groundbreaking TV deal with the sport.

British Gymnastics has secured a three-year deal which will see the broadcaster exclusively screen the World Cup at Arena Birmingham later this month and several other major championships.

Nigel Hill, commercial director at British Gymnastics, said: “We are delighted to partner with BBC Sport on this historic agreement.

“Gymnastics is spectacular to watch and we win more fans every year.

“Broadcast is crucial to the profile and understanding of the sport.

“This new agreement ensures viewers can experience many exciting Championship events and disciplines.”

The World Cup will be streamed live via the BBC app, website and Red Button on Wednesday, March 21, and Thursday, March 22, and also broadcast on BBC1 on the Saturday.

Great Britain’s World Cup team comprises Birmingham gymnast Dominick Cunningham, Amy Tinkler, Alice Kinsella and James Hall.

They will be up against leading gymnasts from seven other nations.

Gymnasts will take part in the all-around competition which for men includes the floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and high bars.

The women will battle it out on the vault, uneven bars, beam and floor.

Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport, said: “This new deal strengthens our year-round commitment to gymnastics and is a perfect fit for our market-leading, free-to-air, sports streaming service.

“We’re delighted to be showcasing the sport and the inspirational feats of its British role models to the widest possible audience.”

British championships in artistic gymnastics, which has previously been broadcast on TV, and rhythmic gymnastics will be streamed live on BBC Sport online and on connected TV over the next three years.

Aerobics gymnastics, trampoline tumbling and double mini trampoline and acrobatics gymnastics British championships will also be streamed by the BBC.