1.
LV Angela Hoyme performs on assymetric bars and crowd applaud (2 shots)
0.40

2.
LV Barbel Krause on assymetric Bars with crowd applauding (2 shots)
1.15

3.
MV Carola Rober performs on beam with audience watching (3 shots)
2.00



Initials CL/0047


SPORT: GYMNASTICS

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Great Britain's women gymnasts went closer to qualifying for the Montreal Olympics despite their defeat by East Germany in the Olympic qualifying match at Crawley Sports Centre in Sussex, England, on Saturday (27 March).

The Germans scored a total of 379.5 points to Britain's 372.8. But the match was secondary to the aim of the British team - to score as much as possible over the standard mark of 350 points.

The 22.80 points the team scored above 350 counts towards the total qualifying points for the Games.

Because of cut-backs in Olympic spending, only 12 teams will be allowed to enter, which has meant the imposition of rigid entry standards.

East Germany, who wee second in the Munich Olympics and the World Championships in Varna, Bulgaria in 1974, are already sure of a place at Montreal.

At Saturday's competition, star of the meeting was East German Barbel Krause, who scored 9.7 out of 10 for her bars routine, which included one move which drew a loud gasp from the crowd.

She stood upright on the higher bar, then performed a back flip, landing on he stomach on the lower bar. Miss Krause scored a total of 76.5.

Britain's highest scorer was Avril Lennox, with a total of 75.75.

SYNOPSIS: East Germany's Angela Hoyme performs on the assymetrical bars during the Olympic qualifying match against Great Britain at the Crawley Sports Centre in Sussex, England, on Saturday. The East German team was second at the Munich Olympics in 1972 and again in the World Championships in Bulgaria in 1974, and it is already assured of a place in the Montreal Olympics. So the Germans could afford to send over this team of promising youngsters. Although, as expected, Britain eventually lost to East Germany in this match, the team strengthened its claim to a place in the Olympics.

Only one member of this East German team is expected to go to Montreal. She is Barbel Krause, who drew loud gasps from the crowd with her performance on the bars. She scored nine-point-seven out of a possible 10 for this routine.

The British team was out to score as many points as possible, to qualify for the Olympics which this year will be limited to only 12 teams.

The East Germans scored a total of 379.5 points to Britain's 372.8. This was 22.8 points above the required 350 and these will be added to the excess points scored at other qualifying matches to determine whether Britain takes part as a team in the Montreal games.

Here Carola Rober, one of East Germany's most promising young women gymnasts, does her routine on the beam. She top scored this section with 9.5 points.