FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE GYMNASTIQUE
Continental Unions
Our relationship with the Continental Unions has finally been regulated and stabilised from a legal,
statutory and regulatory standpoint, which has facilitated the implementation of technical and
cultural development, solidarity and special assistance programmes, and also the provision of
equipment in those regions most in need.
This has taken place in cooperation with the continental bodies, particularly regarding the provision
of equipment.
The results of this close cooperation are encouraging: the most striking step forward in terms of
technical and sporting progress was seen very clearly at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara
last year.
Similar progress was subsequently witnessed throughout the second qualification event for the
London Olympic Games.
Rhythmic Gymnastics still lags slightly behind; the technical requirements seem clear, however,
with the result that the American continents seem likely to catch up quickly in this discipline.
The same positive trend was confirmed in Doha during the Pan Arab Games in November 2011.
The progress being made is encouraging, and suggests that this region will have caught up within
just a few years.
Such indicators prove that gymnastics around the world is growing stronger, and that the gap
between the less experienced and the more established federations is diminishing.
The future executive of the FIG will need to play an extremely active role in Africa. Firstly, this will
require a more stable political climate, both at governmental level and within the local gymnastics
bodies. The constant conflicts in Africa are preventing our assistance from having an effect.
Thus far, all forms of assistance have proved ineffective due to internal and external tensions.
Athletes' Commission
The President of the Athletes' Commission is making his presence felt both within the Executive
Committee and the Technical Committee.
His task is far from easy; due to various, and sometimes conflicting, reasons he must:
interpret the complex requirements and motivations of the athletes whose technical and
personal requests and requirements he represents
justify these requirements to the three groups with whom he has a regular dialogue: the
Men's Technical Committee to which he belongs; all of the athletes in the six relevant
disciplines; and the Executive Committee to which he reports in the final instance
His task is therefore complex I would go so far as to say arduous due to the obviously different
demands of the six disciplines, and because he must represent these within the specific political
context of the Executive Committee.
Although the president appears to have proven his ability to play this delicate role effectively, the
athletes themselves remain indifferent towards this new body within the sport's global
organisational structure. This is a shortcoming.
It is likely that the commission's fundamental weakness is the young age of most of our athletes,
which unfortunately explains the lack of interest among many federations. Furthermore, these
same athletes feel that the commission is only of limited relevance to their real needs. They may
not be fully aware of what it can do to raise international and national awareness of their:
specific needs
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FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE GYMNASTIQUE