The Barclaycard World Freerun Championships

Whatever you choose to call it – parkour, free-running, crazy street gymnastics – there's no denying that this increasingly popular urban sport is as physically challenging as it is artistic.

If you have no idea what we're on about, then you've either been living in the middle of a very flat field all your life without any access to youtube... or you simply never go outdoors (and again have no access to youtube). For this, we are truly sorry.

Free running encapsulates movement, technique, stunts, freedom, landscape, obstacles and the beauty of movement in areas we normal everyday folk would avoid even walking across, never mind Superman front-flipping across...

Picture courtesy of Siro Micheroli, www.siromicheroli.com

It has become a global phenomenon, with athletes from all corners of the earth perfecting their vaults and wall-runs every day. So much so that competitors from 17 different countries are now ready to meet, and face each other in the The Barclaycard World Freerun Championships.

On 3rd September 2008 Camden's iconic Roundhouse will play host to this massively intense and beautiful sport. A specially designed course will be constructed to challenge the abilities of more than 20 top-flight international freerunners.

Each will perform to the accompaniment of his own individually selected soundtrack and in a unique twist, each will be judged by his fellow competitors. The Barclaycard World Freerun Champion will be the athlete who displays the greatest skill, complexity and above all, fluidity or 'flow'.