Double representation for gymnastics!

Lausanne (SUI) / FIG / Office, June 7, 2013: Recently elected to the head of the French Gymnastics Federation (FFG), Mr James Blateau (56) has just been given a seat on the Administrative Council of the French National and Sport Olympic Committee (CNOSF).

The election bolsters the new President’s reform policy and activities with regard to clubs and their members by placing gymnastics at the core of a collective project. In his inaugural speech, he expressed his commitment to exchange, transparency, and openness to improving FFG reach.

Facing the camera of French Television: Isabelle Severino, President James Blateau and World CHampion Thomas Bouhail. (photo FRA)

At the same time, Isabelle Severino was re-elected as a French athlete delegate to the CNOSF, having participated in the Olympic Games. The 2005 Artistic Gymnastics European Champion on Floor, and Bronze medallist at the 2003 Aerobic Worlds was also named Co-President of the Commission of High-Level Sports, jointly with Tony Estanguet (canoeing-kayaking).

The double election is an apotheosis of gymnastics’ integration into the French national sport movement.

Tribute and new authorities

Lausanne (SUI) / FIG Office, June 6, 2013: On March 16, in the chambers of Kuala Lumpur’s Olympic Council of Malaysia, the Malaysian Gymnastics Federation statutorily convened its annual General Assembly. First on the order of the day was the election of national authorities for the 2013 and 2014 fiscal years.

Outgoing President Dr Zakaria Hj Ahmad had informed the Assembly of his decision to take his leave, explaining that the time had come to step down after 35 years of service.

Dr Ahmad was a key player in the development of gymnastics in Malaysia and throughout Asia. He has held numerous posts and is active on various commissions and working groups that pursue awareness among political and sport authorities in the areas of physical education, health and wellness.

Throughout his career he has been active in the Asian Gymnastics Union as an authority member. At the Congress in Marrakech (MAR) in 2000, he was elected to the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Council, a position he would hold until his retirement in 2008.

An advocate for education and training, he helped to spearhead the first FIG Gymnastics Academy in 2002 in Kuala Lumpur. Because of his success, the project – initiated by President Prof. Bruno Grandi – continues to develop rapidly at the international level.

In June 2004, Dr Ahmad was decorated with the Order of Merit by the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City (USA). Bart Conner awarded the distinction at a traditional and prestigious ceremony that has seen multiple legendary champions go down in history since its founding in 1988.

In 2006, he organised the 6th FIG Council at home in Kuala Lumpur and invited members to a prestigious Gymnastics Gala held parallel to the festivities marking the 125th anniversary of the FIG.

At the most recent FIG Congress in October 2012, Cancun (MEX), Ahmad ran again for the FIG Council as a representative of the Asian Gymnastics Union; he was re-elected.

The FIG and the entire international gymnastics community pay tribute to one of the sport’s most devoted servants.
The new Executive Board for the Malaysian Gymnastics Federation is as follows: President Mr Haji A. Razak Bin Mat Amin, assisted by Mr Kau Git Kaur. Vice-Presidents: YB Dato’Tan Gin Soon, Mr Azmi Bin Hassan, Ms Petrina Low Lai Hun; Hon. Secretary, Mr N. Shanmugarajah.

Gymnasts show solidarity

Lausanne (SUI) / FIG Office, May 31, 2013: The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has adopted the Declaration of Brighton, a charter written in 1994 by the International Working Group Women and Sport (IWG), created to promote women in sport and all physical activity.

For the FIG, a federation made up primarily of female athletes, the act is proof of its resolve to support the movement and contribute to the development of an athletic culture that works to advocate woman in every area of her athletic activity.

In June 2014, IWG will organise its 6th Conference in Helsinki (FIN) under the high patronage of former Republic President, Ms Tarja Halonen. Among the issues to be discussed at the international event are sport policy, excellence in management and athlete support, physical activities, creativity, innovation and culture in sport - the guardian of human rights.

As the oldest of international sport federations (1881), the FIG invited young women to participate for the first time in its Artistic World Championships in 1934. Since then, women’s events have extended to include Rhythmic Gymnastics (1963), Trampoline, Aerobic and Acrobatic (1999). Today, of 13,000 gymnasts participating in World and Olympic Games and holding international licences, 8,000 are women. In all, the FIG is 65% female, from athletes to authorities.

The Declaration of Brighton was signed by the FIG President and his Secretary General, respectively Prof. Bruno Grandi and André F. Gueisbuhler, as well as IWG President Ms Raija Mattila (FIN).The ceremony was held on May 28 parallel to the SportAccord 2013 Convention in St Petersburg (RUS).
 

Gymnastics in the spotlight

Lausanne (SUI) / FIG Office, May 24, 2013: The Bulgarian National Olympic Committee (NOC) has designated its college for the 2013 – 2017 Cycle. Convened in Sofia on May 9 after having re-elected Ms Stefka Kostadinova to the presidency, the General Assembly elected Ms Iordanka Blagoeva, President of Bulgaria’s Aerobic Gymnastics Union as Vice-President.

The election is a testimony to the Bulgarian sports community of Blagoeva’s commitment as a respected and recognized individual in sports in general and Aerobic Gymnastics in particular. Aerobic is indebted to her for the national and international growth that led to its hosting world championships in both 2004 and 2012.

From the left: Iordanka Blagoeva, Iordan Iovtchev, Stefka Kostadinova (FIG)

The NOC also took this assembly as an opportunity to elect as a member Mr Krassimir Dunev, icon in Bulgarian Artistic Gymnastics who took the Silver medal at the 1996 worlds in Puerto Rico (PUR) and the Bronze in Sabae (JPN) in 1995 at the Horizontal Bar. He is also provisionally elected acting President of the National Gymnastics Federation, the exclusive body affiliated to the FIG, during the absence of incumbent President Iordan Iovtchev, recently promoted to the rank of Deputy Minister for Physical Education and Sports in the Bulgarian Republic.

It is of interest to note that both President Kostadinova and her new Vice-President, are specialists at the high jump; the former having mounted an Olympic podium on two occasions. In Seoul (KOR) in 1998, she took home Silver, pocketing Gold at the Olympic Games Atlanta (USA) just eight years later. She still holds the world record in the discipline with a 2.09m jump at the worlds in Rome (ITA) as far back as 1987! As for Iordanka Blagoeva, she was a Silver medallist at the Olympic Games in Munich (GER) in 1972, Bronze in Montreal (CAN) in 1976 in the same specialty.

What role models!