Gym for Life Challenge

Lausanne (SUI) FIG Office, June 8, 2009: The Gym for Life Challenge is a whole new event concept developed by the International Gymnastics Federation. It involves the evaluation of club performances by a college of experts and a winning club. The winner will be crowned World Clubs Champion!

The competition is open to groups of any size or age group. It is a Gymnastics for All event held alternately with the World Gymnaestrada, a gymnastic festival first held in Rotterdam (NED) in 1953.

The FIG Gym for Life Challenge gives breadth to the Federation’s competitive calendar and satisfies the growing demand put forth by Gymnastics for All, the FIG’s foundational discipline that boasts over 50 million licensed amateur gymnasts worldwide.

The Concept

3 Age Group categories are available: 16 and under, 17 and over, and mixed. They’re divided into two divisions: groups of 20 gymnasts or less (small groups) and of 21 gymnasts or more (large groups). Each group is allotted a maximum of 5 minutes to present their exercise, either with or without apparatus or music, and on a 20 x 30 metre stage.

A ranking list will be established, and Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will be awarded. The gold groups in their respective categories will be invited to perform in a final Gala, at which time the highest scoring club will be crowned World Clubs Champion.

Scoring

The groups will be evaluated by a college of experts specifically designated from among the Federation’s technicians and choreographers by the Gymnastics for All Committee. They will watch for entertainment value, overall impression, innovation, originality, variety, technique and skill safety.

Education

A wide range of theoretical and practical workshops will be given parallel to the Challenge, focusing on Gymnastics for All topics such as gymnastics & dance, fitness, health and apparatus work. The workshops will be open to coaches, leaders, spectators and gymnasts alike in the aim of promoting a greater awareness of pleasure, fitness, a healthy lifestyle and friendship. Such are the fundamental values outlined in the statutes of the oldest established international sport federation worldwide.