Double representation for gymnastics!

Lausanne (SUI) / FIG / Office, June 7, 2013: Recently elected to the head of the French Gymnastics Federation (FFG), Mr James Blateau (56) has just been given a seat on the Administrative Council of the French National and Sport Olympic Committee (CNOSF).

The election bolsters the new President’s reform policy and activities with regard to clubs and their members by placing gymnastics at the core of a collective project. In his inaugural speech, he expressed his commitment to exchange, transparency, and openness to improving FFG reach.

Facing the camera of French Television: Isabelle Severino, President James Blateau and World CHampion Thomas Bouhail. (photo FRA)

At the same time, Isabelle Severino was re-elected as a French athlete delegate to the CNOSF, having participated in the Olympic Games. The 2005 Artistic Gymnastics European Champion on Floor, and Bronze medallist at the 2003 Aerobic Worlds was also named Co-President of the Commission of High-Level Sports, jointly with Tony Estanguet (canoeing-kayaking).

The double election is an apotheosis of gymnastics’ integration into the French national sport movement.

Tribute and new authorities

Lausanne (SUI) / FIG Office, June 6, 2013: On March 16, in the chambers of Kuala Lumpur’s Olympic Council of Malaysia, the Malaysian Gymnastics Federation statutorily convened its annual General Assembly. First on the order of the day was the election of national authorities for the 2013 and 2014 fiscal years.

Outgoing President Dr Zakaria Hj Ahmad had informed the Assembly of his decision to take his leave, explaining that the time had come to step down after 35 years of service.

Dr Ahmad was a key player in the development of gymnastics in Malaysia and throughout Asia. He has held numerous posts and is active on various commissions and working groups that pursue awareness among political and sport authorities in the areas of physical education, health and wellness.

Throughout his career he has been active in the Asian Gymnastics Union as an authority member. At the Congress in Marrakech (MAR) in 2000, he was elected to the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Council, a position he would hold until his retirement in 2008.

An advocate for education and training, he helped to spearhead the first FIG Gymnastics Academy in 2002 in Kuala Lumpur. Because of his success, the project – initiated by President Prof. Bruno Grandi – continues to develop rapidly at the international level.

In June 2004, Dr Ahmad was decorated with the Order of Merit by the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City (USA). Bart Conner awarded the distinction at a traditional and prestigious ceremony that has seen multiple legendary champions go down in history since its founding in 1988.

In 2006, he organised the 6th FIG Council at home in Kuala Lumpur and invited members to a prestigious Gymnastics Gala held parallel to the festivities marking the 125th anniversary of the FIG.

At the most recent FIG Congress in October 2012, Cancun (MEX), Ahmad ran again for the FIG Council as a representative of the Asian Gymnastics Union; he was re-elected.

The FIG and the entire international gymnastics community pay tribute to one of the sport’s most devoted servants.
The new Executive Board for the Malaysian Gymnastics Federation is as follows: President Mr Haji A. Razak Bin Mat Amin, assisted by Mr Kau Git Kaur. Vice-Presidents: YB Dato’Tan Gin Soon, Mr Azmi Bin Hassan, Ms Petrina Low Lai Hun; Hon. Secretary, Mr N. Shanmugarajah.

Gymnasts show solidarity

Lausanne (SUI) / FIG Office, May 31, 2013: The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has adopted the Declaration of Brighton, a charter written in 1994 by the International Working Group Women and Sport (IWG), created to promote women in sport and all physical activity.

For the FIG, a federation made up primarily of female athletes, the act is proof of its resolve to support the movement and contribute to the development of an athletic culture that works to advocate woman in every area of her athletic activity.

In June 2014, IWG will organise its 6th Conference in Helsinki (FIN) under the high patronage of former Republic President, Ms Tarja Halonen. Among the issues to be discussed at the international event are sport policy, excellence in management and athlete support, physical activities, creativity, innovation and culture in sport - the guardian of human rights.

As the oldest of international sport federations (1881), the FIG invited young women to participate for the first time in its Artistic World Championships in 1934. Since then, women’s events have extended to include Rhythmic Gymnastics (1963), Trampoline, Aerobic and Acrobatic (1999). Today, of 13,000 gymnasts participating in World and Olympic Games and holding international licences, 8,000 are women. In all, the FIG is 65% female, from athletes to authorities.

The Declaration of Brighton was signed by the FIG President and his Secretary General, respectively Prof. Bruno Grandi and André F. Gueisbuhler, as well as IWG President Ms Raija Mattila (FIN).The ceremony was held on May 28 parallel to the SportAccord 2013 Convention in St Petersburg (RUS).
 

Gymnastics in the spotlight

Lausanne (SUI) / FIG Office, May 24, 2013: The Bulgarian National Olympic Committee (NOC) has designated its college for the 2013 – 2017 Cycle. Convened in Sofia on May 9 after having re-elected Ms Stefka Kostadinova to the presidency, the General Assembly elected Ms Iordanka Blagoeva, President of Bulgaria’s Aerobic Gymnastics Union as Vice-President.

The election is a testimony to the Bulgarian sports community of Blagoeva’s commitment as a respected and recognized individual in sports in general and Aerobic Gymnastics in particular. Aerobic is indebted to her for the national and international growth that led to its hosting world championships in both 2004 and 2012.

From the left: Iordanka Blagoeva, Iordan Iovtchev, Stefka Kostadinova (FIG)

The NOC also took this assembly as an opportunity to elect as a member Mr Krassimir Dunev, icon in Bulgarian Artistic Gymnastics who took the Silver medal at the 1996 worlds in Puerto Rico (PUR) and the Bronze in Sabae (JPN) in 1995 at the Horizontal Bar. He is also provisionally elected acting President of the National Gymnastics Federation, the exclusive body affiliated to the FIG, during the absence of incumbent President Iordan Iovtchev, recently promoted to the rank of Deputy Minister for Physical Education and Sports in the Bulgarian Republic.

It is of interest to note that both President Kostadinova and her new Vice-President, are specialists at the high jump; the former having mounted an Olympic podium on two occasions. In Seoul (KOR) in 1998, she took home Silver, pocketing Gold at the Olympic Games Atlanta (USA) just eight years later. She still holds the world record in the discipline with a 2.09m jump at the worlds in Rome (ITA) as far back as 1987! As for Iordanka Blagoeva, she was a Silver medallist at the Olympic Games in Munich (GER) in 1972, Bronze in Montreal (CAN) in 1976 in the same specialty.

What role models!

The Council held a vote to elect the members of the Disciplinary Commission. The members, in order of the number of votes received, are: Paul Engelmann (SUI); Marc Schoenmakers (BEL); Rached Gharbi (TUN); Mehman Aliyev (AZE); Snezana Lakicevic (SRB); Youssef Altabbaa (SYR).

Moreover, the Council duly recognised the lawyers recently appointed by the Executive Committee, namely: Andreas Zagklis (GRE), Michelle Duncan (NZL), Karin Meseck (SUI), Daniele Moro (SUI), Matthias Scherer (SUI) and Bernhard Welten (SUI).

The proposed modifications and updates to the FIG Technical Regulations were accepted without qualification.

The Council approved the six principles which must be applied to the reworking of the competition calendar and the new criteria for qualification for the Olympic Games.  These are as follows:

• To keep the team competitions;
• To include the best individual athletes in competition II;
• To ensure the participation of the best specialists;
• To guarantee the participation of all of the Continental Unions;
• To take into account World Cup rankings;
• To respect the principle of universality.

The 2012 accounts and the revised budget for 2013 were approved.

The competition fees are to be maintained at their current levels.

The national federations of Bahrain (BRN), Cape Verde (CPV), Honduras (HON), Macedonia (MKD), Nepal (NEP) and Turkmenistan (TKM) have been suspended due to their repeated failure to meet their financial obligations. To recap, the federation of Botswana (BOT) was also suspended in 2012.

Further to the proposal by the Statutes Commission and the Executive Committee, the Council accepted the provisional admission to the FIG of the national federations of Afghanistan (AFG) and the Cayman Islands (CAY).

The 37th edition of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in 2019 were awarded to Azerbaijan (AZE) and will take place in the city of Baku.

The Council approved the proposal of the Executive Committee with regard to the deadline for the registration of candidates to host competitions, which shall henceforth be four years for world championships and five years for the World Gymnaestrada.

The Council approved the proposal of the Executive Committee with regard to the deadline for the registration of candidates to host competitions, which shall henceforth be four years for world championships and five years for the World Gymnaestrada.

+++

New elected members

Liverpool (GBR) / FIG Council Office, May 09, 2013: The six members of the new FIG Disciplinary Commission have been elected. The vote designated Mr Paul Engelmann (SUI), Mr Marc Schoenmaekers (BEL), Mr Rached Gharbi (TUN), Mr Mehman Aliyev (AZE), Ms Snezana Lakicevic Stojacic (SRB) and Mr Mohamad Youssef Altabaa (SYR). This election took place on May 9 -10, in Liverpool (GBR), at the occasion of the 13th FIG Council.

In the future and for each open case submitted, the FIG will designate a panel of 3 persons, one member appointed from among the 6 elected above and 2 lawyers from the 6 newly designated by the Executive Committee: Atty. Andreas Zagklis (GRE), Michelle Duncan (NZL), Karin Meseck (SUI), Daniele Moro (SUI), Matthias Scherer (SUI) and Bernhard Welten (SUI).

These elections come into force with immediate effect.

+++

Lausanne (SUI) & Liverpool (GBR), May 08, 2013. AGU/phs

EC Official News

•    The following nationality changes were approved: Aliaksandra Platonova (RG), from RUS to AZE; Anna Svirina (RG) from RUS to ARM; Naoya Tsukahara (MAG) from JPN to AUS; Ruslan Aghamirov (TRA) from RUS to AZE; Katrine Field-Hagelund (RG), from NOR to NZL.

•    The requests for FIG affiliation from the federations of Afghanistan (AFG) and the Cayman Islands (CAY) were approved. A final decision on whether to affiliate them will be taken by the FIG Council.

•    Ali Zaater (ALG), who was elected as head of the African Gymnastics Union (UAG) on 25 April 2013, will henceforth take up the place previously occupied by his predecessor Mohamed Yamani (ALG) on the FIG Executive Council. Additionally, the UAG has announced the creation of a new Gymnastics for All Committee.

•    The proposal to transform World of Gymnastics magazine into a digital publication was approved. However, 1,000 copies of it will continue to be published in the current format.

•    The Executive Committee authorised the FIG Presidential Commission to make the necessary provisions with regards to the publication of the findings of the FIG Disciplinary Commission concerning the Rhythmic Gymnastics judges’ courses in Bucharest (ROU), Moscow (RUS) and Alicante (ESP).

•    The members welcomed the signing of the major partnership agreement between the European Gymnastics Union (UEG) and Kapital Bank of Azerbaijan.

•    The Executive Committee will propose that the Council changes the deadline for the registration of candidates for the organisation of the World Championships and the World Gymnaestrada: for the World Championships, 4 years prior the event, for the World Gymnaestrada, 5 years.

•    The modifications to the World Cup Regulations, as well as the regulations for the Judges’ Evaluation Programme (JEP) and its application were accepted.

 
André F. GUEISBUHLER
Secretary General

NB
The next meeting of the FIG Presidential Commission and Executive Committee will be held in Lausanne (SUI) / FIG Office, November 18 to 23, 2013.

 

IOC Sport for All World Conference in Lima (PER)

LAUSANNE (SUI) , FIG Office, May 7, 2013: Custodian of Gymnastics for All (GfA) since its founding in 1881, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) regularly and actively participates in the Sport for All Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Member of that Commission, Margaret Sikkens-Ahlquist (SWE), President of the Committee of the FIG GfA was the trip from Lima (PER) in April to participate in the biennial international conference, organized by the IOC. We collected her impressions on her return from Peru.

"Representing the FIG and as a member of the IOC Sports for All Commission I was impressed by the quality of speakers at this conference. One of them Wilfried Lemke, Special advisor to the UN Secretary General on Sport for Development and Peace, spoke about the Social benefits of Sports for All. We also had some very interesting discussion on how the venues build for high performance activity (Olympic Games etc.) must be accessible for sport and leisure activities. In the same discussion it was pointed out that we do not need all the exclusive material for the Sport for All activities. For gymnastics that is an obvious that we do not start with gymnastics on the competition apparatus but what we need is boxes, mats and springboards. Finally we had speakers talking about the necessity to work in partnership to reach success. Timothy Armstrong from the World Health Organization (WHO) talked about the role of the WHO and the international partners. Beside all information from the speakers we made site visits and could see Sport for All activities for the people of Lima.“

Get Moving!

This 15th IOC World Conference on Sport for All came to a conclusion in Lima, Peru, with a call to action to the Olympic Movement and the world of sport to “Get Moving”.

The Conference, which ran from 24 to 27 April, brought together over 500 leading experts in the field of Sport for All from almost 90 countries to share their best practices on a wide range of activities.

The themes of this Conference were the social benefits of sports and physical activity, the importance of the availability of sports facilities and public spaces and the cultivation of partnerships. Formatted on a practical approach, the Conference encouraged participants to experience and learn from actual programs with site visits to Sport for All initiatives throughout the city of Lima. A series of practical sessions which focused on those conditions that are necessary for successful programs and the challenges surrounding community engagement were also on offer.

Participants left the conference with the “Get moving – the IOC guide to managing Sport for All programs” toolkit, which combines practical guidance and inspirational cases aimed at assisting and motivating participants in the development of new programs.

The next IOC World Conference on Sport for All will be held in 2015.

A time for reflection and for looking forward

Algiers (ALG) / UAG Head Office, April 25, 2013: The day after the election of the new President of the Union of African Gymnastics (UAG), Ali Zaater (ALG), his predecessor, Mohamed Yamani (ALG), delivered an assessment of his 23 years at the helm of the UAG.

Yamani was one of the signatories of the declaration that gave birth to the Union in Algiers back in October 1990, at the time of the inaugural African Gymnastics Championships. Prior to the official formation of the Union there had been numerous discussions and soundings on the topic, most notably in Tunis in 1988, aided by the enthusiastic support of Prof. Bruno Grandi, who was then FIG Vice-President.

In November 2011, an extraordinary general assembly took place in Gand (BEL), which was at the time hosting the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. The assembly ratified the UAG’s statutory and regulatory documents, which were drafted to conform with the recent organisational and structural changes at the FIG.

Since 2005, the presidents of each of the continental unions of the FIG have held a seat on the FIG Executive Committee. This has had significant benefits in terms of information flow and dissemination of the decisions taken by the FIG, and has also improved coordination, in particular with regard to the scheduling of the international event calendar.

The UAG and the South Africa Gymnastics Federation will welcome the 2nd World Gym For Life Challenge, in July 2013.

As new UAG President, Ali Zaater has both the profile and experience to carry out his mandate with calm authority. A former gymnast, who subsequently served as an international judge, President of the Algerian Gymnastics Federation and Vice-President of the Algerian NOC, which he continues to serve as Chief of Staff, he will now be looking to bring his experience and knowledge to bear for the benefit of the entire African continent.

The membership of the UAG executive body for the period 2013-2016 is as follows:

The presidents of the UAG’s technical committees for the same period are as follows:

In other news, South Africa has been chosen to host the 2014 African Artistic Gymnastics Championships.

New President for the Union

Algiers (ALG) / Lausanne (SUI) / FIG Office, April 17, 2013: The African Gymnastics Union (UAG) has elected a new President, Ali Zaater (ALG). He succeeds Algerian Mohamed Yamani, who after twenty years in office has stepped down. The new president swept the elections in a large majority win over Faycel Ben Ali Zemni of Tunisia, after Jerry Masia withdrew his candidacy at the last minute.

The former and the new UAG President. From the left: Mohamed Yamani and Ali Zaater.

At the close of the elections, Ali Zaater said he was “very pleased and proud to succeed Yamani, a man who stands as a model for each of us to follow, and whose qualities it will be difficult to match. These past months have been extremely tense, but things have turned out well. I was surrounded by competent people as well as a very crucial spirit of solidarity. Every entity involved extended solidarity and support, the Algerian Gymnastics Federation, the Algerian Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth and Sport: it was a national endeavour.”

For twenty years, Ali Zaater held the offices of UAG Secretary General and Chief of the Cabinet with the Algerian NOC. His experience and natural approach to people underpinned his ability to manage twenty-four Union member national federations. Some of the more weighty issues facing the new president include Olympic qualification for African gymnasts, regional support and the training of technicians.

The new UAG panel. From the left: Norbet Bueche (FIG), Ali Zaater (UAG), Mohamed Yamani (ALG), Albertine Goncalvez (SEN), Jerry Masia (RSA).

For this reason, Ali Zaater says he will reinforce contact with the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), with whom he shares close ties, for their participation at numerous assemblies and world championship events.

FIG Hon. Vice-President and former Secretary General, Mr Norbert Bueche, representing FIG President Prof. Bruno Grandi in Algiers, thanked the outgoing president for his consistent work, and extended his support and wishes for success to Ali Zaater in his new role.

The new UAG President will officiate for the first time in his term at the 13th FIG Council in Liverpool (GBR) in May.
 

The event gets a face!

Lausanne (SUI) / FIG Office, April 11, 2013: Handed organization of the 3rd World Gym for Life Challenge by the FIG Council in St Petersburg (RUS) in May 2012, the Norwegian Gymnastics Federation will host the 3rd World Gym for Life Challenge from July 26 – 30, 2017 at the Oslofjord Convention Center in the heart of Vestfold, near Oslo.

Still years away, organisers have just unveiled the official logo, giving the event its face.

Its colours evoke the ocean surrounding Norway, bathing the venue in waves. Its form is inspired by both water and the motion of large gymnastic groups. The logo comes in response to the slogan: Rhythm by the waves.

Taking place every four years, the World Gym for Life Challenge is an FIG International Gymnastics for All contest open to everyone. The International Federation created the event in 2009 to offer a second event to gymnastic groups worldwide with performance evaluation. The reaction was immediate; participants and public alike demonstrated their passion and interest for both the club performances and the educational workshops offered.

The premiere edition of the World Gym for Life Challenge was held in Dornbirn (AUT) in 2009, and in July 2013 some 2,000 gymnasts will be hard at work in Cape Town (RSA) for the second.
+++

+++
Japan’s Highest Honour

Lausanne (SUI) / Tokyo (JPN), April 11, 2013: On April 8, 2013, the Nippon Sport Science University (NSSU) in Tokyo granted the title of Dr Honoris Causa to Prof. Bruno Grandi (ITA), President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). The distinction pays tribute to the professor’s career and stellar work inside international sport over more than fifty years.

A national-level gymnast as a teenager, coach and selector for Italy’s Men’s team, President of his federation, Vice-President of the Italian NOC, recipient of the Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit distinction, international judge and FIG President since 1996, Bruno Grandi has devoted his entire life to gymnast education and preservation, the reform and development of national and international structures and the fight for sport justice. He is unanimously applauded by his colleagues for his experience, integrity and enthusiasm.

The ceremony was held at Tokyo’s Nittaidai University in the presence of highly respected Japanese sport and scholarly authorities, notably Masato Mizuno, Noriyuki Ichihara, ChiharuIgaya, Vice-President, Executive Director and Honorary Member of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) respectively; as well as  Hidenori Futagi, President de la Japan Gymnastics Association (JGA), and Ryosho Tanigama, Shigeaki Abe and Daizo Hakamada, President and Vice-Presidents of Nippon Sport Science University (NSSU) respectively.

In his speech, Prof. Grandi expressed a commitment to taking up the challenge faced by gymnastics, particularly in terms of ethics and the development of the discipline’s artistic content. “My gratitude to Japan’s sport and scholarly authorities; I applaud the immense gymnastic culture and tradition that your country continues to foster today. This title honours the international gymnastics community to which I have devoted my entire career, and which I continue to serve. I am proud of how far we’ve come, and look forward to the objectives and mission I have embraced and with which the 130 FIG affiliated federations have entrusted me through a new mandate at the head of the FIG,” said the President at the close of the ceremony.
+++

Decisive times

Algiers (ALG) / UAG Office; April 9, 2013: With sixteen nations signed up and confirmed – making all federations traditionally registered with the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and its African Gymnastics Union (UAG) accounted for – the UAG Elective General Assembly will get off to an auspicious start on April 13 – 14 in Algiers.

Participants will examine the content and implementation of the quadrennial 2013 – 2016 programme, and study every area of UAG activity with two major objectives in mind: African selection for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (BRA) and a development programme to meet existing expectations.

The assembly will also be a time to re-elect leaders, a new phase that promises to be full of unforeseen developments. Outgoing President and UAG founder, Mohamed Yamani, formally steps down from his mandate after twenty-three years of service, making room for one of the three running candidates: Mr Fayçal Zemni – President of the Gymnastics Federation of Tunisia, Mr Ali Zaater, candidate of the Algerian Federation, and Mr Jerry Masia – President of the South African Gymnastics Federation. The election is wide-open.

A large number of candidates have registered for the election of three Vice-Presidents, representing each of the geographical regions. The same is noted for seats on the Executive Board and various Committees.

The assembly will have the honour of the presence of FIG President, Prof. Bruno Grandi, as well as Honorary Vice-President and former Secretary General, Norbert Bueche.

A page is turning in the history of the Union, one which dates back to 1990.