A message from Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee

The grace, beauty and athleticism of gymnastics has captivated audiences from Antiquity until today. It was practiced in ancient Greece and has been part of the modern Olympic Games since the very first Games in 1896.

Like all sports on the Olympic Programme, gymnastics has evolved over time. Female gymnasts began competing at the Olympic Games in 1928 in Amsterdam. Rhythmic Gymnastics made its Olympic debut at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, followed by the introduction of Trampoline Gymnastics at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Under the able leadership of the International Gymnastics Federation, gymnastics in all its forms remains one of the most popular sports at the Olympic Games.

In 2010, gymnastics helped launch a new Olympic tradition with its inclusion in the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. Now, the next group of YOG gymnasts is preparing to compete at the second Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing in August. They represent the dynamic future of a sport that constantly pushes beyond the known limits of human ability with remarkable demonstrations of agility, strength, flexibility and coordination.

Their talent, hard work and commitment to the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect will ensure that gymnastics will continue to captivate audiences for years to come.