This event, the most important elite gymnastics event in every non-Olympic year, returns to Japan for the first time since it was first staged there in 1995 when Sabae hosted the 31st edition.

There was a qualification round that determined who went through to the Team, All-around and Apparatus Finals, when the 2011 World Champions and medallists for both men and women will be determined.

The latest update to the entry list features a total of 532 competitors (288 men and 244 women) from 81 different countries.

There are 24 teams in both the men’s and the women’s competition, all of whom qualified at the 2010 World Championships in Rotterdam (NED).

The competition was fierce, especially since the team events in Tokyo determine participation for the 2012 Olympic Games, with the top eight qualifying directly for London and those finishing in 9th-16th going through to the Olympic test event in January that serves as a second Olympic qualifier.

In addition, all medallists in the individual apparatus competitions in Tokyo will book their tickets for London.