The artistic gymnastics begins
with a qualification round. Each nation in the teams competition
comprises six people, but only five compete on each apparatus. At the end of the qualifying round, the top
eight performers on each apparatus and the top six teams overall
progress to the finals — The "7-6-5" rule: seven
gymnasts comprise a team, six athletes compete on each
apparatus, and the top five scores on each apparatus count towards the team total.
Scores from the qualification round are not
carried over into the finals. In another change from Atlanta, artistic
gymnasts are no longer required to perform compulsory routines.
In addition to the six apparatus competitions
for the men and four for the women, the top 36 gymnasts after the
qualification round take part in the all-around final which measures
each gymnasts' skills on every apparatus.
In both the men's and women's competitions, 98
gymnasts will take part. Seventy-two of these will take part as members
of teams, the other 26 will be individuals.
Nations ranked 13–18 are allowed to enter two
gymnasts each. The next nine best-performed gymnasts are granted entry,
with a limit of one per country. The remaining five positions in each
competition are granted according to wild cards, one from each
continent.
Nations rather than individuals qualify for the
gymnastics, meaning those who performed at the World Championships will
not necessarily be selected for the Olympics.
