competes with a patterned ribbon The official specifications for the ribbon are as follows: •
Length: 6m •
Width: 4-6cm The handle can be of any color and may be made of wood, bamboo, metal, or a synthetic material, such as
fiberglass. It has a maximum diameter of 1 cm (2/5") at its widest, a cylindrical or conical shape, and may have an anti-slip grip with a maximum length of 10 cm (4"). The ribbon itself is made of
satin or another similar cloth, and can be of any color. 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. A thread or ring swivel attaches the ribbon to the handle. Rhythmic gymnastics routines require the ribbon to constantly be in motion and create defined shapes. Because of the ribbon's length, the gymnast can easily become tangled in it or cause knots to form; juniors and beginner gymnasts may use shorter ribbons. 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 during the qualification round that included ribbon. Penalties are taken for continuing to perform after a knot has formed without undoing the knot or for allowing the end of the ribbon to lie static on the floor. ==Elements==