International Federation of Gymnastics

The Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique ( FIG), the International Gymnastics Federation, based in Lausanne.

History

On July 23, 1881, the Fédération Européennes de Gymnastique ( FEG) is founded by Nicolas J. Cuperus in Liege. Founding members are France, Belgium and the Netherlands. In 1921, the FEG is the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique. At this time, FIG 16 has members.

Although the International Olympic Committee allows the FEG to the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, this does not take part in the Games. It was not until 1908 the FEG involved for the first time officially in the Olympic Games.

A first own international competition organized by the FEG in 1903 in Antwerp. The first official World Championships in Artistic Gymnastics FIG take place in 1931 in Paris, however. Women are not allowed to participate in the World Championships at first. From 1934, the FIG also competitions for women aligns then.

In order to make competitions fair, 1949, the first special regulations of the men are introduced. Today there are for each discipline - except the General Gymnastics - a comprehensive summary catalog, the so-called Code of Points.

To bring together Turner beyond the competition, will host the FIG 1953 in Rotterdam, the first gymnaestrada from. This Gymnastics Festival will take place from then on every four years at different locations.

The FIG also begins to represent more gymnastic sports in the following years alongside the Artistic Gymnastics. Thus, in 1963 held the first World Championships of Rhythmic Gymnastics in Budapest, 1995, see the first Aerobic World Championships in Paris. Since 1998, the FIG is also the umbrella organization of the trampoline gymnast.

President

1881-1924 Belgium Nicolas J. Cuperus 1924-1933 France Charles Cazalet 1933-1946 Poland Adam Zamoyski 1946-1956 Belgium Goblet d' Alviella 1956-1966 Switzerland Charles Thoeni 1966-1976 Switzerland Arthur Gander 1976-1996 Soviet Union / Russia Yuri Titov Since 1996, Italy Bruno Grandi

Associations

The FIG belong to 114 national associations. Germany is represented by the German Gymnastics Federation, Austria by the Austrian Association for gymnastics and Switzerland by the Swiss Gymnastics Federation. At continental level include the following associations to FIG:

• Union Panamericana de Gimnasia
• Union Européenne de Gymnastique
• Asian Gymnastic Union
• Union Africaine de Gymnastique

Disciplines

The FIG represents various gymnastic sports. These are summarized in 7 categories:

• General Gymnastics
• Artistic Gymnastics Men and Women
• Rhythmic Gymnastics
• Trampolining
• Aerobic Gymnastics
• Acrobatic Gymnastics