Christopher BarrettThe ACC Liverpool Group, operators of the M&S Bank Arena, said the venue saw a number of world firsts for the sports as well as sell out crowds for the last weekend of the 51st FIG World Gymnastics Championships at the venue.
It said 35,000 tickets were sold for the event, which saw 14 world titles claimed and 79 medals presented.
The event involved a World Gymnastics Championships-first with the creation of the Championships Fan Zone. Attended by more than 18,500 people, it offered a range of activities, an opportunity to see the Championship medals, and chances to meet gymnasts including Becky Downie, Claudia Fragapane and Dan Purvis.
The Championships involved 406 volunteers, who between them clocked in a total of 15,000 hours working across 30 different roles including spectator services, digital and media, sport, hospitality and event operations.
In another world first for the sport, Liverpool 2022 saw the introduction of the use of British Sign Language on screen for the duration of the competition.
The event was broadcast by the BBC in the UK but was also viewed heavily via social media channels. The ACC Liverpool said more than 87,000 people tuned in to the WGC2022 Facebook page in the UK during the qualification rounds while major final moments also attracted viewers, including Brazilian star Rebecca Andrade’s performance being viewed more than 700,000 times.
World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022 chair Claire Lewis thanked event partners including Liverpool City Council, British Gymnastics and UK Sport: “We have witnessed such incredible skill and determination on the competition floor, and alongside amazing performances, we believe we have taken the spectator experience to the next level, delivering an immersive and inclusive experience for those both familiar and new to the sport of gymnastics. Through our digital strategy, we have also successfully engaged with those fans following the Championships from across the globe.”
ACC Liverpool Group commercial director Ben Williams said, “This phenomenal event was a culmination of the city working in collaboration with UK Sport, British Gymnastics and the International Gymnastics Federation from first submitting the bid in 2017 to holding a world-class Championships. It was a prime example of our prowess in delivering major international events as we mark six months until we host Eurovision 2023.”