Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which gymnasts perform individually or in groups on a floor with an apparatus: hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon and rope. The sport combines elements of gymnastics, dance and calisthenics; gymnasts must be strong, flexible, agile, dexterous and coordinated. Rhythmic gymnastics is governed by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), which first recognized it as a sport in 1963. It became an Olympic sport in 1984 with an individual all-around event. The group all-around competition was added to the Olympics in 1996. At the international level, rhythmic gymnastics is a women-only sport. The most prestigious competitions, besides the Olympic Games, are the World Championships, World Games, European Championships, European Games, the World Cup Series and the Grand Prix Series. Gymnasts are judged on their artistry, execution of skills, and difficulty of skills, for which they gain points. They perform leaps, balances, and rotations along with handling the apparatus.
At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, three disciplines of gymnastics were contested: artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline. The artistic gymnastics and trampoline events were held at the Olympic Indoor Hall and the rhythmic gymnastics events were held at the Galatsi Olympic Hall.
At the 1988 Summer Olympics, two different gymnastics disciplines were contested: artistic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics. The artistic gymnastics events were held at the Olympic Gymnastics Hall in Seoul from September 18 through 25th. The rhythmic gymnastics events were held at the same venue from September 28 through 30th.
Women's rhythmic group all-around competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium.
Women's rhythmic individual all-around competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium.
The women's rhythmic group all-around competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics was held at the Wembley Arena from 9–12 August.
The girls' rhythmic individual all-around at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics was held on August 26–27 at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre. There were two rounds of competition in the individual competition. In each round, competing gymnasts performed four routines. One routine was performed with each of the four apparatus: rope, hoop, ball and clubs. The combined scores from the four routines made up the preliminary qualifications round score. The top eight gymnasts after the preliminary round advanced to the finals. There, they performed each routine again. Scores from the preliminary will not be carried over, the gymnasts start back their routines with maximum of D10/E10 in base value.
The women's rhythmic group all-around competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics was held at the Rio Olympic Arena.
The 2018 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 10 to 16 September 2018 at Arena Armeec. The top three countries in the group all-around, Russia, Italy, and Bulgaria won the first three spots for the 2020 Olympic Games. Russia was the most successful nation of the competition with seven of the nine gold medals, and Bulgaria and Italy each won a title.
The Women's rhythmic group all-around competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics were held at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre in Tokyo, Japan, with the qualification taking place at 7 August and the final on 8 August.
The Women's rhythmic individual all-around competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics was held at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre in Tokyo, Japan, with the qualification taking place on 6 August and the final on 7 August.
Australia competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris from 26 July to 11 August 2024. Australian athletes have appeared in every Summer Olympic Games of the modern era, alongside France, Great Britain, Greece, and Switzerland. As Brisbane will stage the 2032 Summer Olympics, Australia and the United States, the next nation to host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, marched before the homebound French team entering the Place du Trocadéro during the parade of nations segment of the opening ceremony.
Germany competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris from 26 July to 11 August 2024. It was the nation's eighteenth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympic Games, except for 1920 and 1924 due to the nation's role in World War I, and 1948 for the nation's role in World War II. From 1956 through 1964, Germans competed as part of the United Team of Germany (UTG); in 1968, the team was split into two teams West Germany and East Germany. West Germany boycotted the 1980 games as part of the American-led boycott, and then returned in 1984. East Germany boycotted the 1984 games as part of the Soviet-led boycott, and in 1988, East Germany returned for the last time. One year after the fall of the Berlin Wall, West and East Germany re-united as one country with their reunification in 1990, and it has participated in every Summer Olympics since 1992 games in Barcelona.
Gymnastics competitions at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will be contested in three categories: artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics and trampolining. The artistic and trampoline events will occur at the Accor Arena, with the rhythmic events staged at Porte de La Chapelle Arena from 8 to 10 August.
The Women's rhythmic individual all-around competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics was held at the Adidas Arena in Paris, France, with the qualification taking place on 8 August and the final on 9 August.
Italy competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris from 26 July to 11 August 2024. Italian athletes have appeared in every Summer Olympics edition of the modern era, with the disputed exception of the 1904 edition in which one Italian may have competed.
Spain competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris from 26 July to 11 August 2024. Spanish athletes have appeared in every edition of the Summer Olympic Games from 1920 onwards, except for the 1936 Summer Olympics in Nazi Germany because the nation's government was part of the anti-fascist boycott.
Bulgaria competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris from 26 July to 11 August 2024. Bulgarian athletes have appeared in every edition of the Summer Olympics from 1924 onwards, except for three occasions: the 1948 Summer Olympics in London because of the nation's instigation in World War II, and the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles because of the worldwide Great Depression and Soviet boycott, respectively.
The People's Republic of China competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris from 26 July to 11 August 2024. It was the nation's twelfth appearance at the Summer Olympics since its debut in 1952. However, China did not participate in the next seven games: 1956; the nation was absent in 1960 and 1964 over a dispute with Taiwan; 1968; 1972 due to issues with GANEFO; 1976 due to Republic of China boycott; and 1980, joining the US led boycott. The nation has participated in every Olympics since the 1984 Summer Olympics.
The archery competitions at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris took place over seven days, from 25 July to 4 August, at Les Invalides. 128 archers competed across five events, with the mixed team recurve returning to the Olympic program for the second time.
