it was the first appearance of the event, which would only be held again at the 1920 summer olympics. the official name was team competition iii – with free choice of movements and apparatus. for every nation one team was allowed to participate. one team had to consist of not less than 16 nor more than 40 members. the entry was closed on june 6, 1912. as all other gymnastics competitions the event took place in the olympiastadion.