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Milestones in FIG History

 

1842 Birth of Nicolas J. CUPERUS in Antwerp (BEL), founder and FIG President for 43 years.
1863 Birth of Pierre Frédy Baron de Coubertin in Paris, reviewer of the Olympic Games.
1881 Founding of the FEG office in Liège on July 23rd (Fédération Européenne de Gymnastique). N.J. Cupérus, President. Belgium, France and the Netherlands are represented at the first International Convention.
1896 Athens: First Olympic Games of the modern era, updated by Pierre de Coubertin. The FEG, recognised by the IOC, does not officially participate in these Games as an international federation. Eighteen gymnasts from five countries fought for individual titles.
1903 The International Tournament in Antwerp (4 countries) is the first step towards the formation of World Championships.
1908 London: For the first time, the FEG participates in the Olympic Games as an official international federation, responsible for gymnastics worldwide.
1921 On April 7th, the FEG office becomes the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG). Sixteen members are present.
1924 Ch. CAZALET (FRA), President. The FIG Headquarter moves to Paris (FRA).
1928 Founder Nicolas J. CUPERUS dies at the age of 86. In Amsterdam, first participation of women in the Olympic Games.
1931 First Artistic Men’s World Championships  in Paris.
1933 Count Adam ZAMOYSKI (POL), President. The FIG Headquarter moves to Poland.
1934 First participation of women in the World Championships in Budapest.
1937 Death of Baron de Coubertin.
1946 Goblet d’ALVIELLA (BEL), President. The FIG Headquarter is in Geneva (SUI).
1949 Introduction of the 1st Men’s Code of Points.
1953 First Gymnaestrada in Rotterdam.
1956 Charles THOENI (SUI), President.
1961 Congress in Stuttgart. The FIG counts 49 affiliated federations.
1963 First World Championships of Modern Gymnastics in Budapest. The sport becomes Rhythmic Sports Gymnastics in 1975.
1966 Arthur GANDER (SUI), President.
1967 The FIG participates in the establishment of the GAISF.
1968 Mexico Olympics: Vera CASLAVSKA (TCH), Sawao KATO
1971 Founding of the PAGU (Panamerican Gymnastics Union) in Cali (COL).
1972 Munich Olympics: Olga KORBUT, Ludmilla TOURISCHEVA (URS), Sawao KATO (JPN).
1973 The FIG opens its permanent secretariat in Lyss (SUI).
1975 Modern gymnastics becomes Rhythmic Sportive Gymnastics.
1976 Yuri TITOV (RUS), President. Montreal Olympics: Nadia COMANECI (ROM), Nellie KIM (URS), Nicolai ANDRIANOV (URS).
1981 Celebration of the 100th anniversary in Montreux (SUI). RSG becomes an Olympic discipline. 
1982 Founding of the UEG (Union Européenne de Gymnastique) and of the AGU (Asian Gymnastics Union).
1984 RSG in Olympics for the first time (Los Angeles). Lori Fung (CAN) first Gold Medallist.
1990 Founding of the UAG (African Gymnastics Union) in Alger (ALG).
1991 The FIG Head Office leaves Lyss for Moutier (SUI).
1992 The federation counts 114 affiliated member federations and roughly 15 millions gymnasts. Vitaly SCHERBO (CEI), Emperor of the Games in Barcelona, wins 6 Gold medals!
1994 The General Assembly abolishes compulsory exercises for the Artistic Gymnastics programme for World Championships and Olympic Games as of 1997. It also decides to set up a Sports Aerobics Commission and to run the 1st FIG Sports Aerobics World Championships in 1995. 
1995 First Artistic World Championships in Asia (Sabae, JPN)
1996 The 70th Congress and the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta (USA). Bruno GRANDI (ITA) is elected President of the FIG. Sports Aerobics becomes an official FIG discipline. For the first time, RSG groups take part in the Olympic Games. Spain is the Olympic Champion. More than 560,000 spectators attend gymnastics competitions at the Georgia Dome. The FIG now counts 124 affiliated federations.
1997 The 33rd Artistic World Championships in Lausanne (SUI) welcome guests of the 106th session of the International Olympic Committee.
   
   
1998 71st Congress in Vilamoura (POR). The General Assembly adopts the new structures of the Federation (Council) and welcomes Trampoline and Sports Acrobatics as new FIG disciplines. FIG World Cup Final in Japan (City of Sabae). The FIT is dissolved. Trampoline becomes an official FIG discipline.
1999 First Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Asia (Osaka City, JPN). The IFSA is dissolved. Sports Acrobatics becomes an official FIG discipline. The FIG opens its own Internet website. Extraordinary Congress in Tianjin (CHN). 
2000 Sydney: Trampoline makes a stunning entrance into the Olympic Games. Irina Karavaeva and Alexandre Moskalenko (RUS) are the first Olympic Champions in history. 73rd Congress held for the first time on the African Continent in Marrakech (MAR).
2001 First Council meeting at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne (SUI). The FIG counts 125 affiliated Federations.
2002 The FIG opens its first Gymnastics Academy in Kuala Lumpur (MAS). Creation of the FIG Foundation. The FIG counts 124 affiliated Federations and 2 associated Federations.
2004 The FIG coordinates the wording for its new disciplines: Trampoline Gymnastics, Aerobic Gymnastics and Acrobatic Gymnastics. Incidences occur at the Olympic Games in Athens during the Men’s Artistic events that result in the cancellation of the International Judges’ Courses and revision of the MAG/WAG Codes. Congress in Antalya (TUR): President Bruno Grandi takes on his 3rd mandate. The FIG welcomes the federations of the Bahamas (BAH), Congo (CGO), Mauritania (MTN), the Cook Islands (COK) and Botswana (BOT). The FIG counts 129 Affiliated Federations in all.
2005 André Gueisbuhler takes over the office of Secretary General from Norbert Bueche (January), who held the position since 1988. The FIG employs 19 persons at its head office in Moutier (as opposed to 4 upon its arrival in 1991). The new IRCOS (Instant Replay & Control System) project is introduced at the 38th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Melbourne (November). 
2006 Official celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the FIG in Geneva (SUI), with the guest attendance of Mr Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee.
2007 The FIG Council approves a Disciplinary Code. The FIG counts 128 affiliated Federations, 2 of which are associated.
2008 Transfer (July 5th) of the FIG Head Office to Lausanne (SUI), home to the International Olympic Committee. 77th Congress in Helsinki. Launch of new website. President Grandi is re-elected for a 4th term. The FIG has 129 member federations (121 affiliated - 3 associated - 5 suspended).
2009 Official inauguration of the FIG Head Office in Lausanne (SUI) on March 5 in the presence of IOC President Jacques Rogge. The compulsory licence for gymnasts is introduced at the occasion of the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in London. First Gym for Life World Challenge in Dornbirn (AUT).
2010 Vysoke Tatry (SVK), the FIG is made of 130 Federations, out of which 4 are Associate Federations. The Reference Judges system was officially implemented at the Artistic Gymnastics Worlds in Rotterdam (NED) and at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Worlds in Moscow (RUS). 
2011 Introduction of the flight timing in Trampoline competitions.