Ribbon (rhythmic gymnastics)

[1] From 2001-2012, each apparatus had a compulsory body group of movements that had to predominate in the exercise; for ribbon, this was pivots (turns).

[2] The official specifications for the ribbon are as follows:[3] The handle can be of any color and may be made of wood, bamboo, metal, or a synthetic material, such as fiberglass.

It may be multicolored and have designs on it, and it is doubled over for a length of 1m and sewn down along both edges at the end that attaches to the handle.

[4] Rhythmic gymnastics routines require the ribbon to constantly be in motion and create defined shapes.

[6] The length also makes it sensitive to currents in the air, so air conditioning is typically turned off while the ribbon is being competed; temperatures in the arena at the 2023 World Championships reached 35 °C (95 °F) during the qualification round that included ribbon.