The best gymnasts in the world were to be included in a ranking and prize money was also to be paid – this was a first for Rhythmic Gymnastics. These requirements also guaranteed a certain media interest, which in its turn was intended to motivate countries to organize these high-profile competitions. Germany contacted some countries to gain support for the idea. The first set of rules was drafted in the course of many meetings with the UEG and in 1994 the first Grand Prix Series was organised in the Netherlands, Ukraine, France, Germany and Austria, which hosted the finals

This committee still regularly amends and verifies the rules.
For each competition, a supervisor is appointed whose responsibility it is to safeguard the strict adherence to the rules. The media and the public have showed great interest in these competitions, in particular as the participation of the world's best gymnasts is guaranteed. The Grand Prix Series assumes greater importance each year and is a fixed date in the international gymnastics calendar. Each year more countries volunteer to organise events, so that in 2006 the committee was forced to limit the number of events to a maximum of 12.  Due to the special character of the competitions the organisers are obliged to vouchsafe particular conditions to the participants during their stay.

It is to be hoped that this interesting series of competitions will continue to develop and will add to the popularity of Rhythmic Gymnastics with a world-wide audience.
Because the big number of altogether 10 world cup events the number of Grand Prix Tournaments was reduced from 8 to six in the Pre-Olympic year 2011.

* Heide Bruneder,
Grand Prix Committee, Vienna, Austria

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