Glossary

Amplitude: The height or degree of execution of a move.

Balance: Α static position that holds a distinct shape. It is a compulsory element in many apparatus. It can be performed in several positions: with one leg straight back, to the side, etc.

Code of Points: Edition from the International Gymnastics Federation with the rules in which the scoring system and the composition of a program are based. It is valuable for coaches and judges. There is one for each discipline. Composition: Τhe structure of a routine.

Compulsories: Ρre-designed routines that contain specific movements required for all gymnasts.

Deduction: Points that each judge deducts for each incorrect execution and/or composition. It applies for each element. At the end of the routine the deductions are added up together and are deducted in order to give the final gymnast’s score.

Degree of difficulty: Level of difficulty of each routine.

Element: Α single move that has a standard way of performance and technical value.

Execution: Τhe form, style and technique used to complete the skills included in a routine.

Pirouette: As dancing element, to turn on one foot around the body's longitudinal axis. As an acrobatic element, it is a somersault with one full twist in the longitudinal axis.

Routine: Α combination of elements displaying a full range of skills on one apparatus.

Competition Rules

In Artistic Gymnastics, men and women compete separately, men in six apparatus and women in four. In the Olympic Games, the competition schedule for men and women is separated into four parts:

Qualifications:
98 women and 98 men athletes compete as team members or individually (12 teams with 6 athletes on each team and 26 individually), to qualify for the Team-Finals, Individual All-Around and Apparatus Finals. The scores of the qualifying event are not transferred to the finals.

Team Finals:
The best eight teams participate according to their placement at the qualifying event. Each team consists of six gymnasts, but only three of them compete in each apparatus. Each team’s final score is based on the three scores attained in each apparatus. The winning team is the one with the highest total score in all apparatus.

Individual All-Around Finals:
The best 24 men or women out of the qualifying event participate, performing voluntary exercises on each apparatus. Maximum two athletes from each NOC participate in the Individual All-Around Finals. The gymnast with the highest total score in all apparatus is proclaimed the winner.

Apparatus Finals:
The top eight athletes participate in the six apparatus for men and four apparatus for women, according to the placement during the preliminary event. In the apparatus finals no more than two athletes from each country may participate. The athlete with the highest total score in the apparatus he or she is competing in is proclaimed winner.

Judges

Evaluation in Artistic Gymnastics follows the rules of the International Gymnastics Federation. An Apparatus Jury follows each apparatus. The Apparatus Jury consists of a Chair of the Apparatus Jury and eight more judges. The eight judges are divided in two groups as follows:

A Jury, which consists of two judges, evaluates the Start Value, which is the highest possible score (10.00) for an athlete, based on the content, the degree of difficulty, the special requirements and the bonus points of the exercise he or she performed.

B Jury, which consists of six judges that determine deductions according to the implementation of the programme.

Scoring

	All exercises have been given a maximum score by the International Federation, and separated into categories according to their degree of difficulty.
	Athletes must include exercises from all categories in order to achieve the highest possible score.
	The athletes’ score is reduced by mistakes, such as a lack of rhythm, flexibility, stability or technical errors.
	The highest and lowest mark is discarded and an average is formed from the rest.
	An element that is presented for the first time in a major competition is named after the athlete who introduces it.
	The average scoring of the six judges that evaluate the execution (once the lowest and highest mark is discarded) is subtracted from the scoring of the Start Value of the exercise.