FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE GYMNASTIQUE
Letter from the President
Nr 56
By Prof. Bruno Grandi, President of the FIG December 2011
Friends,
I have decided to run for re-election at the FIG General Assembly in Cancun (MEX), October 25
27, 2012. I will solicit the votes of the 130 national affiliated federation delegates for a fifth
mandate.
My decision is the product of long consideration. A fifth term is the logical continuation of a
mandate that the Atlanta Congress first issued to me in 1996 when I succeeded Yuri Titov after a
twenty-year reign. Historians will remember that he and I ran against one another in the
memorable elections of 1992 in Salou (ESP), in which my friend Titov reclaimed office by a single
vote!
It is no mystery that I am getting along in years. At the age of seventy-seven, I hope to leverage my
experience in sports to bring numerous projects to fruition. This will be my last mandate. But before
I take my leave, there are several issues that need my attention, and I am committed to finishing
what I started. I am both pugnacious and consistent.
Among the issues at hand is the debate surrounding eligibility to be part of the technical
authorities; members must be in possession of a category I or II judge and level III coach brevet as
of 2013. It is my responsibility to provide our sport and our gymnasts with individuals who are both
trained and competent. It is a credibility issue. Other topics include development, solidarity and
promotion of gymnasts in underprivileged countries. Gymnastics cannot fall into the trap of catering
to wealthy countries. We must reach higher, we must strive for universality. Such is the Olympic
ideal, and the justice I hold dear.
But the most ambitious project by far is that of competition reform within the Marketing project. Our
product needs to be streamlined; and to keep our competitions attractive for sponsors and the
public, it has been found imperative to review our Codes of Points.
Since the day I first took office I have laboured toward attracting more attention to our sport.
Gymnastics needs to simplify the rules, give a face lift to its formats and speak in terms that
Generation Y can understand. This is imperative. My experience has taught me that success is a
passing thing and that what we achieve today must be pursued tomorrow; fundamental truth!
With these things completed, I will be able to hand the keys of the FIG over to my successor
knowing that I have finished the job.
With my warmest wishes for an excellent New Year 2012,
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FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE GYMNASTIQUE