The collector’s edition December issue of Inside Gymnastics magazine features the 2011 World Championships and is the first issue in our Countdown to London series! Don’t miss out on your All-Access pass to the world of gymnastics! Here’s a look inside the issue…

Worlds 2011

With the 2012 Olympic Games less than a year away, this year’s Gymnastics World Championships will have an added pressure and excitement. Not only is the event a qualifier for the 2012 Games, but an opportunity for the world’s best to start making their charge toward London.

In our special Nov/Dec commemorative issue, we’ll have a look inside the 2011 World Championships, with insight from the champions and stars, a look at what goes on behind the scenes, and stunning photos from podium training to opening ceremonies to the competition and everything in between. We’ve got all the bases covered and we’re your inside pass to the year’s biggest event!

Countdown to London 2012

In this issue, we’ll also be kicking off our special year-long series “Countdown to London 2012.” We’ll take you on a journey that will introduce you to Ones to Watch, Storylines to Follow, Need to Know, (your 411 on everything from Internet and TV schedules to key events and dates leading to London) and much more!

Center Spread Mini-poster

Your vote will decide which standout athlete from the 2011 World Championships is featured in our center-spread mini-poster. Stay tuned on InsideGymnastics.com for voting in our special Worlds section coming soon. Then, look for the winner of the vote to be featured on the pull-out poster in this issue!

Plus!

This issue will also feature all of your regular favorite sections, including Shannon Says, our reader Q&A with Olympic gold medalist Shannon Miller, Your Take with commentary from Olympian John Roethlisberger (what controversial topic will he cover in this issue?), Chalking Up, Picture Perfect, People, Places & Faces plus the Inside Buzz, our take on the ten hottest topics in the sport.

Don’t miss out on this jam-packed issue! Kickoff the Countdown to London 2012 with Inside Gymnastics magazine. Subscribe or Renew today!

Pictured: 2011 U.S. Champ Jordyn Wieber, a contender for the All-around title at the upcoming 2011 World Championships in Tokyo. Photo by Grace Chiu

Inside Gymnastics is your all-access pass to the world of gymnastics! Make sure you subscribe today to get all the 411! Subscribe/Renew today and make sure you don't miss an issue of Inside Gymnastics magazine! http://www.subscribeig.com/

Nearly 450 of the USA's best Level 10 gymnasts will converge in Long Beach, Calif., to compete in the 2011 Women's U.S. Junior Olympic National Championships May 13-14 at the Long Beach Sports Arena. Level 10 gymnasts compete in the highest level in the Junior Olympic program, which is just under the elite level. The Junior Olympic National Invitational Tournament (NIT) is held in conjunction with the Women's National Junior Olympic Championships on May 15.

USA Gymnastics has eight regions, and the top seven gymnasts from each region's Regional Championships advance to nationals. The participants are vying to become Junior Olympic national champions in the all-around, as well as in all four events: vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. The winning regions will also be determined at the conclusion of the competition. The top four all-around athletes in each age division will qualify for the 2011 Junior Olympic National Team and are invited to attend a National Training Camp, scheduled for Oct. 22-25, at the USA Gymnastics National Team Training Center at the Karolyi Ranch, a U.S. Olympic Training Site.

The Junior Olympic National Championships is the culmination event for the competitive season. The competition features eight age divisions (Junior A, Junior B, Junior C, Junior D, Senior A, Senior B, Senior C and Senior D), which are determined by age and birth date.

The competition schedule is: May 13 - 11:30 a.m., Junior and Senior A, and 5 p.m., Junior and Senior B; and May 14 - 11:30 a.m., Junior and Senior C, and 5 p.m., Junior and Senior D. Champions are determined for each session.

The U.S. Junior Olympic National Championships is one of the national championships of USA Gymnastics, the sport's national governing body in the United States. Many Junior Olympic champions have gone on to make the U.S. National Team and represent the United States in international competition and/or to compete in collegiate gymnastics. Many of the country's top gymnasts are former participants in the Junior Olympic program, including 2009 world vault champion Kayla Williams, 2008 Olympic balance beam gold-medalist Shawn Johnson, 2008 Olympic team silver-medalist Samantha Peszek, 2004 Olympic team silver-medalist Courtney McCool and 2006 world all-around silver-medalist Jana Bieger, to name a few.

As a result of fundraising efforts that have raised in excess of $2.5 million, the men’s gymnastics program at the University of California, Berkeley, will be preserved as an Intercollegiate Athletics sport, campus officials announced Monday. The total, though short of the $4 million necessary to fund the team’s current direct and indirect costs, will support the program for at least 7-10 years in combination with steps to reduce annual operating expenses. Specifically, until the ultimate fundraising goal is met, men’s gymnastics will be limited in its ability to provide financial aid to future student-athletes. For the time being, scholarship commitments will be offered at present levels only to returning student-athletes, while athletic scholarship aid for new recruits, an essential element to sustain a program that has consistently ranked among the top five in the country, will be restricted until funding is in place. As additional money is raised toward the $4 million objective, scholarships will be incrementally increased as possible.

“Words cannot even begin to express how happy I am that the Cal men’s gymnastics team has been reinstated,” said coach Tim McNeill said. “I’m so thankful for the outpouring of support we received, from Cal’s athletic department, the Chancellor, our incredible alumni and the team members’ parents who worked around the clock to make this happen. This result would not have been possible if not for the current team’s never-give-up attitude. They held their heads high all year and have not only inspired me, but the entire gymnastics community. This last year was our 99th season, and I’m absolutely elated that we will be here to see our 100th season and beyond.”