Women and Sports

HELSINKI (FIN), October 17, 2008: Among the 'Women and Sports' diplomas awarded in 2008 by the International Olympic Committee, the diploma for Europe is assigned to the current President of the Finnish Gymnastics Federation, Ms Kirsti Partanen.

This exceptional person of the Finnish Sports World played a significant role in the appeasement of a conflict of interests between the gymnasts of different national communities and trends and contributed greatly to solve the problem. Without her intervention, gymnastics which has a long tradition and culture in Finland, would have an uncertain future, even though the country is one of the main federations of the FIG with regard to its activities and its history. Ms Partanen’s diplomacy, her courage and her pugnacity were stronger than the obstacles and the passions. She succeeded where many previous attempts failed.

Ms Partanen, also a member of the National Olympic Committee of Finland, personifies mainly the heritage and the educated vision of women’s gymnastics and represents all women practising gymnastics since 1896.

Today, the Finnish Gymnastics Federation still mentions the label « unified » in its name, i.e. the Finnish Gymnastics Federation SVoLi. This shows how much « Women and Gymnastics » is one of the major partners of Gymnastics for All – the basic discipline of the FIG culture.

The award was handed over to Ms Partanen today in Helsinki, by the FIG President, Prof. Bruno Grandi (ITA), at the opening of the 77th FIG Congress and General Assembly.