REPORT

14th FIG Council

Premier Gulf Event!

Following the rules of rotation, it fell to the Asian Gymnastics Union (AGU) to organize the 14th FIG Council in 2014. After Japan (2002, 2010) and Malaysia (2006), AGU opens its doors to the 44 members in the capital city of Kuwait. This is a premiere for the Gulf countries, particularly the Kuwait Gymnastics Federation and the Arab Gymnastics Union, which are led by Saif Abouedel, FIG Executive Member.

 

FIG Parliament

 

Since its first edition in Lausanne (SUI) in 2001, the FIG Council has continued to build on the foundation laid by federation founders in 1881. A veritable FIG Parliament, it has punctuated the development of gymnastics and mapped the way for emerging generations to follow.

 

Among the main decisions taken over the course of its history, a reduction in the number of All-around contenders in Artistic (2002), the raising of the Artistic age limit in 2005, the creation of gymnast licences in 2008 and the creation of reference judges in 2008.

 

At Liverpool (GBR) 2013, the fundamental principles governing gymnast qualification for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo (JPN) were drafted. The same Council mandated the Executive to set up working groups that would discuss the issue in depth before submitting it to the FIG Council 2014 in Kuwait for vote.

 

The mandate was carried out.

 

 

 

Objectives: Justice – Universality – Regularity

 

From the minute they take to the bars, every gymnast dreams of competitions, podiums and the Olympic Games. It’s a natural trajectory. Their quest, however, s punctuated with the obstacles and pain that gymnasts alone can measure. They sacrifice free time, studies, and at times their health to accidents as they run toward Mount Olympus. Sometimes when they are finally ready to compete they fail to qualify because of the injustices hidden in pre-exiting rules. It is in the hopes of correcting this injustice that new texts have been drafted; the best gymnasts will qualify de facto for the Games.

 

There is another basic principle that the FIG fully intends to respect: universality. Present on five continents and embraced worldwide, gymnastics seeks to demonstrate equal participation at Olympic events. The best gymnasts from the continental unions will be there. They will participate, and that’s what counts if we heed the words of Pierre de Coubertin. In addition to these two concepts, there is the international gymnastic calendar. Qualify for the Olympic Games? But where, and how?

 

The FIG, its unions and federations are organisers of potential events that they hope will attract top gymnasts from all over the world. What we offer them is important, and it can be hard for gymnasts, coaches and federations to make the right choice. Travel, competition overload and cost are obstacles to be reckoned with in a gymnastic season. The FIG and its authorities understand this. For this reason, decisions will be rapidly implemented in order to coordinate the calendar for gymnasts and their entourage, but also to offer the media and public the greatest possible number of evenly spaced, quality events.

 

According to Morinari Watanabe, Secretary General of the Japan Gymnastics Association, sport justice must also find its inspiration in the fundamental principles of Olympism. “If the Olympic Games host the world’s best gymnasts, excellence cannot be the only criteria. We want gymnasts from every continent. Participation is a vital principle in the Olympic Movement and it was important to the man who gave the impetus.”