New Zealand to host World Gymnastics Power Houses at Tauranga's Trustpower Baypark

Rio Olympian Dylan Schmidt looks forward to the event in Tauranga. Photo / Supplied

The 2020 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships are coming to Tauranga.

They are set to be hosted April 17-19 next year at Trustpower Baypark.

The biennial event gathers the best of men's and women's artistic, rhythmic and trampoline gymnastics from the 21 eligible Pacific Rim nations, including USA, China, Japan and Russia.

New Oceania countries were likely to be added prior to the 2020 event.

Gymnastics NZ chief executive Tony Compier said the championships was one of only three events on the international calendar in which all four Olympic sports competed under one roof. The other two events being the Olympics and the biennial World University Games.

"The 2000 Championships that we hosted was a successful event but now, two decades on, the sheer heightened calibre of international gymnastics together with digital advances will enable us to really provide a gymnastics showcase that New Zealand has not seen, and the world has not yet seen from New Zealand," Compier said in a statement this afternoon.

"The decision to hold the event in Tauranga and at Trustpower Baypark was an easy one."

Business development manager BayVenues/Baypark Gillian Houser said she was delighted Gymnastics NZ had been successful in their bid to host the championships.

"We view our association as a working partnership and know that with the continued support and efforts of all parties it will be a tremendous success attracting national and international exposure for Gymnastics New Zealand and our destination."

Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless said it was an honour the city had been selected and "this will be an incredible opportunity for people to experience international athletes competing at the highest level".

The event expects to play a key lead-in for Tokyo 2020 Olympians.

The 2016 Pacific Rim Championships saw several subsequent Rio Olympians take the floor, including world gymnastics phenomenon Simone Biles, alongside New Zealand's own Olympians Dylan Schmidt and Courtney McGregor.

Schmidt won bronze at the 2016 Pacific Rim Championships in the lead-up to his Olympic debut in Rio. In 2012, he gained recognition on the world stage by winning gold in the junior division.

Next year's event will be Schmidt's fifth Championships.

"It's an Olympic year so hard to say exactly who will be there, but it's generally a very high quality field. I'm probably most excited for the opportunity to have friends and family come to watch." said Schmidt.