All participating teams in the World Cup for Artistic Gymnastics, which Egypt hosts on June 3-7, Sports Minister Ashraf Sobhy inaugurated on Thursday 3/6/2021 the World Cup for Artistic Gymnastics that will run till June 7.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Alaa Fouad, International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) President Morinari Watanabe, Head of the Egyptian Gymnastics Federation Ehab Amin and a number of officials and prominent public figures also attended the opening.

In his speech to mark the occasion, the sports minister conveyed President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s greetings to the guests and participating teams and asserted the state’s keenness on organizing international competitions.

Watanabe hailed Egypt over the hospitality it has accorded to all its guests at the tournament, while Amin said that Egypt has been ready to host the championship despite the coronavirus pandemic thanks to the continued support of all State institutions, especially the Sports Ministry, to render the event a success.

All participating teams in the World Cup for Artistic Gymnastics, have already underwent PCR tests upon their arrival to Egypt as part of precautionary measures to contain Covid-19.

The championship, the FIG World Challenge Cup, that is held at Cairo International Stadium, convenes in an African country for the first time in the history of gymnastics.

More than 300 players representing 16 countries participate in the competitions.

The President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Morinari Watanabe hailed Egypt's hosting of the FIG World Challenge Cup for artistic gymnastics 2021.

He said Egypt and its gymnastics union under Ihab Amin offered all needed support to render the championship successful.

He said Egypt is capable of hosting mega sport events, expounding that Egypt hosted this major event despite the hard conditions the world is facing.

He noted that he received positive impressions from participating delegations.

Sixteen countries are taking part in the event; Azerbaijan, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Jordan, Lithuania, Morocco, Malaysia, Romania, South Africa, Serbia, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine and Egypt - the host country.

He added that selecting Egypt to be the first in Africa to host the event attests to its capability of organizing such major sports competitions.

The FIG president voiced deep appreciation to Egypt's Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi for his supportive efforts.