#Event Description and Format -- Gymnastics#
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Eighteen medals will be awarded in the Olympics gymnastics
competition, nine each for men and women. 

The men compete on seven apparatus: floor exercise, pommel
horse, rings, vault, parallel bars, horizontal bars and
trampoline.  Medals also are awarded in the team competition and
individual all-around. 

The women compete for medals on five apparatus: vault, uneven
bars, balance beam, floor exercise and trampoline.  Medals also
are awarded for the team competition and individual all-around. 

Two medals are awarded in rythmic gymnastics -- individual
all-around and team competition for women.  Rhythmic gymnastics
encompass routines using rope, hoop, ball, ribbon and clubs. 

The trampoline is new to the Olympics and will be contested by
12 men and 12 women.  The format is based mostly on the one used
at the World Trampoline Championships. 

It begins with a qualifying round of compulsory and optional
routines, with the top eight advancing to an optional-routine
final. 

The top 36 gymnasts from the team competition advance to the
all-around finals, where the scores are wiped out and athletes
start from scratch and perform optional excercises. 

The top eight finishers on each apparatus during the team
competition qualify for the apparatus finals.  Only two gymnasts
from each nations can advance to the finals on each apparatus. 

Gymnastics runs throughout the length of the Olympics, September
16-October 1. Events will be held at the Sydney SuperDome and
the Ross Pavilion. 

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