Gymnastics for All

History of the World Gymnaestrada

Imagine if you will that you are seated outside a café in Paris or Brussels. In 1881! Two men are passionately conversing. The gentleman with the moustache is Coubertin, the bearded one Cupérus. They're discussing sport, competition, health, ideals.

Fiction?

Not quite. Their meeting did, in fact, take place.

Virtually!

The concept of a competitive gymnastics is the valley that separates the two men. Cupérus opposes the idea while Coubertin dreams of restoring an Olympic movement and games. It was but a few years later in 1897, a mere sixteen years after the creation of the FIG, that the father of the International Gymnastics Federation would pronounce the famous words, "I admit defeat, and accept mankind and the things of this life as they are".

When considering this page in FIG History, we tap into the origin of an existential debate that continues to this day and encounters a historical breaking point that we, as beneficiaries, are still trying to understand. Contrary to popular belief, gymnastics in its hour of glory at the Olympic Games owes nothing to its founder. The truth proves otherwise.

The study of history is laborious but necessary. It serves to put facts into their true context and sheds an unparalleled light on current events. The historical truth comes from Cupérus himself, a man who renounced all manner of competition for his gymnastic ideal!

The Break

But first, context.

Cupérus' project, the vision of Gymnastics without competition, began to take shape in Liège (BEL) on July 23, 1881, the day the FIG came into being. We know that its beginnings were difficult. Sceptics had to be conquered and reassured. France, Holland and Belgium were convinced, but they needed to grow and expand to include other countries. They reached a plateau in 1897 with 17 members. Their new challenge was to create a structure or framework in which the young federation might flourish. Five objectives were proposed to the members, the first four of which were unanimously approved: Sharing of publications and official documents - Directives on invitations - Dismissal of any member pursuing religious or political ends - Banning of professional gymnasts.

The 5th objective posed a problem. Two sides formed, the first with Cupérus at its head, the second with the Frenchman Charles Cazalet. This 5th article provided for the organisation of international competitions, which Cupérus vehemently opposed in his report. He stated, "my ideal remains unchanged and I dream of the day when competitions will be superfluous, when gymnasts will compete for the infallible prize of their own effort, the exact equivalent in health, strength, flexibility, tenacity."

The majority was of a different mind and Cupérus issued his famous declaration, "I admit defeat, and accept mankind and the things of this life as they are". The first FIG international tournament took place in 1903 in Antwerp (BEL).

The World Gymnaestrada

A handful of votes kept gymnastics and the FIG from becoming non-competitive! The Federation would have its world championships, but Cupérus' message was not lost and plays a major role in gymnastics today.

It is primarily due to the efforts of Johannes Heinrich François Sommer (NED) that Cupérus' ideal triumphed. In 1953, the FIG rediscovered the spirit of its founder when the first World Gymnaestrada premiered in Rotterdam. Five thousand gymnasts participated! Lausanne (SUI), the Olympic Capital, is expecting 20,000 in 2011!

Later, in the 1970s, Europe and its continental union promoted the idea of a world organisation to reinstate the philosophy of Gymnastics for All (Zweite Weg) within the context of the FIG. FIG authorities were completely unprepared for this proposal and appointed a working commission to study the issue. The commission was instrumental in creating the first Gymnastics for All Committee, elected at the Los Angeles Congress in 1984 and formed by Chairman Jean Willisegger (SUI); Vice-Presidents Olof Kihlmark (SWE) and Karl-Heinz Schwirtz (GER) and members Niels Peter Nielsen (DEN), Giorgio Garufi (ITA), Lance Otto (AUS) and Gerald George (USA).*

In the 21st century, the spirit of that ideal is still alive and, more than ever before, Gymnastics for All is the basis for all sports, the solid foundation on which the entire edifice rests. The millions of gymnasts that make up the first level of the pyramid include spectators, TV audience, organisers and devoted volunteers who serve the tenants of the highest level, the elite gymnasts. To destroy this foundation would mean the swift demise of our federation. It is thus useful to contemplate the writings of those who have gone before us, to give credence to the wisdom of their reasoning.

While both had a similar vision for humanity, they differed on how to carry out that vision. Coubertin (1863 – 1937) was able to promote his competitive vision in 1896 and Cupérus (1842 – 1928) accepted defeat one year later.

History repeats itself

One-hundred and thirty years later in 2011, the spirit of his ideal continues as more than ever before Gymnastics for All remains the FIG’s primary asset, the solid foundation on which rests the entire edifice. The millions of gymnasts that make up this part of the pyramid are the spectators, TV viewers, organisers and volunteers who support the pinnacle’s elite.

To neglect this foundation is to bring about a swift demise. From time to time it is important to reread the writings of those who have gone before and validate the wisdom of their reasoning.

Pierre de Coubertin (1863 – 1937) also had an ideal: to reform the educational system, placing Man at its core! By chance or coincidence that happened in 1896, just one year before Nicolas J. Cupérus (1842 – 1928) defended his sporting ideal!

In 2011, a competitive breeze has begun to waft through FIG Gymnastics for All, while another blows the olive trees on Mount Olympus. The impetus? A sentence belonging to the famous Professor Albert Jacquard **, observer of time and men: “Faster, higher, stronger: the time has come to set aside this childish ideal and to offer a more humanistic expression of Olympism.”

Gymnastics and the Olympics, Coubertin and Cupérus! Two visionaries, two debates to express one ideal. Fascinating!

Let us recall from whence we came. Both the times and mankind change. Over the next one-hundred and thirty years, what will they say of the visionaries of 2011?

The World Gym for Life Challenge

In July 2009, the premiere edition of the Gym for Life World Challenge was held in Dornbirn (AUT). The event brought together some 2,000 gymnasts, 80 clubs and 27 federations.
A success!

The format, which is a kind of world championships for amateur gymnastic clubs, was hailed by one and all and comes in response to the demands of gymnasts worldwide. GC Piruett of Tallinn (EST) was crowned the first ever World Champion Club, and as such is the holder of the Grandi Trophy.

*The 110th Anniversary of the FIG, André Huguenin.
** “Halte aux Jeux”, Albert Jacquard, Stock 2004.