These World Championships are pivitol for the London 2012 orgainisers as this is the first time that a sport, besides football and tennis, is hosting its major international competition in the same venue in the capital that it will hold the Olympic tournament in just over 1,000 days time.

While the destination of rhythmic gymnastics for the 2012 Games remains undecided - as insidethegames reported earlier today -  it appears the O2 Arena will doubtless provide a more than suitable venue for artistic gymnastics if today’s World Championships are anything to go by.

A half-full arena was in loud voice as the Championships - which are making their first appearance in London - got underway with the men’s qualification.

 

And the spectators were particularly excitable when athletes from Britain were on display.

 

The British challenge was led by Beijing 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Louis Smith sailed comfortably through to the weekend’s final after an assured display on the pommel horse – the same piece of apparatus that helped to provide his Olympic success.

 

The Beijing hero was ably supported by fellow British Gymnasts Daniel Keatings, Daniel Purvis, Theo Seager, Kristian Thomas and Yevgen Gryshchenko.

 

Tomorrow sees the start of the women’s challenge where British quartet Becky Downie, Beth Tweddle, Marissa King and Rebecca Wing are sure to receive a rapturous reception from the partisan British crowd.

 

Smith (pictured) said: "The arena is spectacular, it’s one of the best I’ve seen in the world and it's great looking towards the future to 2012.

 

"It's amazing to be in front of the home and to get that buzz, but to be honest, there's also the expectation following the Olympics that comes with it.

 

"I just don’t want to let anyone down."

 

Keatings, 19, landed badly in the pommel horse, his preferred event, but still qualified for Thursday's all-around final in an impressive fourth place.

 

He said: "I'm really, really excited being in front of a home crowd.

 

"It’s almost a warm up to the 2012 Olympics with these Championships being in the same arena.

 

"The crowd backing you all the way is an amazing experience."

 

Ahead of her appearance tomorrow, Tweddle – the former world champion on the asymmetric bars – said: "Having done the Commonwealths and World Cup in Manchester and Birmingham, I know the crowd will be amazing.

 

"Lots of my friends are coming so I’m really excited."

 

However, 17-year-old Downie who finished 12th in the all-around competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympics did not share her more experienced teammates’ self-assurance.

She said: "However the competition goes, that’s how it goes.

 

"The main thing will be to enjoy competing in front of a home crowd."

 

Sebastian Coe, the London 2012 chairman, said that Olympics organisers are pleased that the O2 Arena was hosting the Championships because it is offers opportunity to test one of the capital’s major venues ahead of the Games.

 

Coe said: "The difference between a good Games and a great Games is often the amount of time and thought that goes into all your testing programmes."

 

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