A radical new reform for Olympic qualification has been launched by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), maximising the opportunity for athletes to secure a place at the 2020 Games through not only World Championships, but also continental and World Cup events.
In what FIG President Bruno Grandi called a "landmark vote", 38 of the 40 members present at the 13th FIG Council in Liverpool last month voted in favour of the changes, which also outlined plans to adopt a new competition calendar structured to recognise "the universal importance of the Olympics".
"The FIG has wholeheartedly embraced the opportunity for renewal as its Council gave its resounding support to the new programme of reforms," said Grandi.
"I can today confirm that the FIG has taken some historic decisions, which are going to have a lasting impact on its culture.
"The bodies that make up the FIG Council all gave their backing to my plans to reform the competition calendar and the Olympic qualification system.
"It was a landmark moment, one that means that history and future generations will remember the 2013 FIG Council in Liverpool as the crucible for fundamental reform of the FIG.
"The decisions taken there will have an enduring impact on the development of gymnastics, on a par with the abolition of compulsory routines by the FIG General Assembly in Atlanta in 1996."
In terms of competition format, the FIG council agreed to prioritise team events - to help boost the global reach of the sport and maximise the opportunities to compete for Olympic medals - and individual all around competitions - to help athletes' physical development to prepare them for team competition.
It will also focus on athletes with specific abilities to enable them to improve particular skills, so that federations with strong gymnastic traditions and schools but limited resources can compete for Olympic medals.
The sport's world governing body is targeting January 1, 2017 as the date to permanently introduce the reforms, which will affect both the competition calendar and competition formats, thus allocating one entire Olympic cycle to evaluate decisions and their consequences at every stage.
FIG will now host a symposium for all member federations to share their views in October this year.
The Executive Committee will then study any feedback during November before submitting its conclusions to the 2014 FIG Council next May where the measures can be adopted.
"All of the measures adopted, including the new calendar and the new formats, will then be tested out in practice, in order to verify the validity and effectiveness of the reforms," Grandi explained.
"The new calendar and formats are then scheduled to come into force permanently from January 1, 2017.
"All in all, the reforms should provide gymnasts with a clear path towards qualification for the 2020 Olympic Games."