FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup B
34th Turnier der Meister
Cottbus (GER), March 12 – 14, 2010

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, March 9, 2010: A tournament with a long tradition in Germany, the 34th Turnier der Meister, will be held for the 8th time since 2003 as a FIG World Cup from March 12 – 14, 2010 in Cottbus.

Turnier der Meister

The Turnier der Meister was first held in 1973 in Schwerin, followed by Berlin in 1978. Since 1979, the German Gymnastics Federation has been hosting the tournament annually in Cottbus together with the gymnastics club SC Cottbus Turnen e.V.

Under the direction of Mirko Wohlfahrt, who took over organisation of the competition from Sylvio Kroll (1988 Olympic Silver medallist on Vault, 1987 World Champion on Vault and 1985 World Champion on Parallel Bars) in 2008, and supplied with apparatus by long-time FIG partner Spieth Gymnastic, the Turnier der Meister will welcome up to 2,000 fans at the Lausitz Arena eager to see the world’s Artistic Gymnastics elite at this second World Cup meet of the year.

Special features such as a ticket fan package for 10 – 18 year olds, an “Oldie Meeting” for former gymnasts, coaches, judges and journalists and a symposium for coaches held by the German Gymnastics Federation make the Cottbus meet particularly attractive for gym friends.

The line-up

A total of 24 nations from Europe, Asia and the Americas will be represented in Cottbus, featuring 73 MAG and 40 WAG gymnasts. Cyril Tommasone (FRA), Saso Bertoncelj (SLO) and Filip Ude (CRO) on Pommel Horse, Jeffrey Wammes (NED) and Matthias Fahrig (GER) on Vault, Anton Fokin (UZB) on Parallel Bars and Epke Zonderland (NED) on Horizontal Bar are among the key players in the men’s competition.

Germany’s MAG head coach Andreas Hirsch appointed 22 year old Marcel Nguyen to lead a team composed of Matthias Fahrig (Floor / Vault / Parallel Bars), Thomas Taranu (Rings / Vault) and two local stars, Philipp Boy (Pommel Horse / Horizontal Bar) and Robert Juckel (Pommel Horse) in the absence of Fabian Hambuechen.

In the women’s competition, head coach Ulla Koch will have to make do without German Champion Kim Bui, who withdrew due to a knee injury. Her team has dropped to three members: 2008 Olympian Marie-Sophie Hindermann, 16 year old newcomer Maike Roll (both on Uneven Bars, Beam and Floor) and 34 year old veteran Oksana Chusovitina, with a comeback on Vault.

Check out the complete roster for the 34th Turnier der Meister!
MAG
WAG

2009 title holders

Men
Floor Exercise – UCHIMURA Kohei (JPN) – 15.700
Pommel Horse – TRUYENS Donna Donny (BEL) – 15.575
Still Rings – VAN GELDER Yuri (NED) – 15.850
Vault – WAMMES Jeffrey (NED) – 16.100
Parallel Bars – PETKOVSEK Mitja (SLO) – 15.775
Horizontal Bar – CUCHERAT Yann (FRA) – 15.775

Women
Vault – KAESLIN Ariella (SUI) – 14.550
Uneven Bars – BRINKER Anja (GER) – 14.825
Balance Beam – PIHAN-KULESZA Marta – 14.075
Floor Exercise – SUI Lu (CHN) – 14.200

For more information check the official event website!

The editorial staff of the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB) will provide a live web commentary (in German) throughout the tournament. Check it out on Friday from 1 pm and on the weekend from 2 pm (GMT +1) following this link!

The next FIG World Cup circuit stopover in Artistic Gymnastics will be in Doha (QAT) on August 22 – 24, followed by Paris (FRA) on April 10 – 11.

Book by Véronique Bury

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, March 9, 2010: Journalist and photographer Véronique Bury (FRA) recently published a book on the basics of Artistic Gymnastics.

Her instructive and informative book sheds light on gymnastics with an impressive simplicity, illustrated by a wealth of poignant and moving photographs. With extensive experience from various sports magazines, the author worked alongside the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) as early as the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

(photo: FIG staff with Véronique Bury on the right)

A short history and look into the origin of gymnastics establish a framework within which the reader explores why to choose gymnastics as a sport. Bury gives a detailed description of training techniques and practices, and explains the various gymnastics apparatus. Her short background on world-class gymnastic athletes leaves a lasting impression and encourages future generations.

“Je fais de la GYM”, the original French title, is particularly useful for young gymnasts looking to understand and perform the sport correctly with the help of Bury’s book. Yet readers with little or no knowledge of gymnastics may discover, upon opening it, a new and surprising interest in the sport.

For more information and purchase, click here.

10th African Championships in Artistic Gymnastics2010
Walvis Bay (NAM), March 3 – 5, 2010

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, March 8, 2010: The 10th African Championships started off with junior and senior competitions in Artistic Gymnastics, March 3 – 5, 2010. The event is held every second year with this year’s edition taking place in Walvis Bay (NAM).

Mohamed Sherif El Saharty of Egypt (82.200) and compatriot Salma Mahmoud (50.050) won the Seniors’ Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics All-around titles respectively in Walvis Bay. In Men’s, Arfaoui Sabeur of Tunisia came in second (81.600), followed by South African Tyrone Morris (80.250). In the Women’s competition, Egyptian Farida Ahmed Shoukry joined her team-mate on the podium in second place, while Jennifer Khwela (RSA) took off with the Bronze.

The Men’s Team competition was topped by Egypt (244.900), followed by South Africa (234.850) and Algeria (234.75), while South Africa’s women prevailed (147.400) over Egypt (146.900) and host Namibia (119.100).

Medals for the Senior events including the Apparatus Finals were distributed as follows:

Men
Egypt 10 (4 Gold, 5 Silver, 1 Bronze)
Tunisia 4 (2 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze)
South Africa (1 Gold, 1 Silver, 4 Bronze)
Namibia 1 (Gold)
Algeria 3 (1 Silver, 2 Bronze)

Women
South Africa 8 (4 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze)
Egypt 7 (1 Gold, 4 Silver, 2 Bronze)
Namibia 2 (1 Gold, 1 Bronze)
Algeria 1 (Bronze)

Detailed results
Senior Men
Senior Women

Results for the Juniors’ competition can be checked here:
Junior Men*
Junior Women*
*Results for the Youth Olympic Games Qualification will be communicated at a later date.

The African Championships continue on with Rhythmic Gymnastics competitions from March 7 – 9, Aerobic Gymnastics on March 8 and Trampoline Gymnastics March 11 – 12.

2010 Tyson American Cup
Worcester (USA), March 6, 2010

WORCESTER (USA) - LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, March 8, 2010: Rebecca Bross of Plano, Texas, and Maxim Devyatovsky of Russia won the Women’s and Men’s All-around titles, respectively, at the 2010 Tyson American Cup, the United States most prestigious invitational, at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass. Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass., and Jonathan Horton of Houston both finished second, with the USA’s Chris Brooks of Houston claiming the Men’s Bronze.

With the USA finishing one-two in the Women’s All-around, Bross easily took the title with her 60.550, with Raisman posting a 58.900. Rounding out the top three was Venezuela’s Jessica Lopez with a 56.500. Ariella Kaeslin of Switzerland and Yuko Shintake of Japan were fourth (56.050) and fifth (56.000).

“I am very proud of myself,” said Bross, who was the all-around silver medalist at the 2009 World Championships. “I just wanted to go out and hit, and I did that. It’s still early in the season, so I’m just ready for the rest of it now. It was amazing to watch girls from my gym (Nastia Liukin and Carly Patterson) win this event and then go out and see what they accomplished, and I just hope the string continues for me.”

For the men, Devyatovsky scored a 90.600 total, finishing 0.450 ahead of Horton’s 90.150. Brooks tallied an 89.900 for a third, edging out defending champion Fabian Hambuechen of Germany, who had an 89.000. Daniel Keatings of Great Britain finished fifth at 88.650.

“I am very, very glad to have won,” said Devyatovsky. “It was important to me because in 1986, 24 years ago, an athlete (Alexei Tikhonkikh) from the former Soviet Union and my hometown was a winner of the American Cup and an American girl (Kristie Phillips) won at that competition as well. So I am very glad!”

He added, “I was in the exact position during the 2007 American Cup. I was leading the competition going into Horizontal Bar and I missed my routine. I tried not to think of my previous mistakes today when I was going on high bar. I’m glad I hit my routine this time and won the meet.”

All-around final results

Women
1. Rebecca Bross, Plano, Texas, 60.550
2. Alexandra Raisman, Needham, Mass., 58.900
3. Jessica Lopez, Venezuela, 56.500
4. Ariella Kaeslin, Switzerland, 56.050
5. Yuko Shintake, Japan, 56.000
6. Elisabeth Seitz, Germany, 55.550
7. Dominique Pegg, Canada, 55.150
8. Elsa Garcia, Mexico, 53.900

Men
1. Maxim Devyatovsky, Russia, 90.600
2. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 90.150
3. Chris Brooks, Houston, Texas, 89.900
4. Fabian Hambuechen, Germany, 89.000
5. Daniel Keatings, Great Britain, 88.650
6. Koji Yamamuro, Japan, 86.850
7. Jorge Hugo Giraldo Lopez, Colombia, 86.200
8. Flavius Koczi, Romania, 85.200

Detailed results
Women’s All-around
Men’s All-around

Photo gallery

(source : USA Gymnastics / adapt. FIG)

Five Gymnastics Legends to be honored by the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame

OKLAHOMA CITY (USA) – LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, March 5, 2010: Five international gymnastics legends will be honored at the 14th annual International Gymnastics Hall of Fame (IGHOF) Ceremony to be held on May 15, 2010, at the Petroleum Club in Oklahoma City (USA).

The class of 2010 honorees includes:

• Cathy Rigby (USA) -1970 World Championships, Silver medal on Balance Beam
• Henrietta Onodi (HUN) - 1992 Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist
• Yuri Korolev (RUS) - 1981 and 1985 World All-Around Champion
• Mikhail Voronin (RUS) - Winner of 9 Olympic medals in 1968 and 1972 (deceased)
• Eileen Langsley (GBR) will be awarded the International Order of Merit for her contributions as the most prolific photographer of major gymnastics competitions for nearly 30 years. 

Over the past thirteen years, 69 of gymnastics greatest stars and contributors, representing 19 countries, have been formally inducted into the Hall of Fame. The IGHOF exhibit is located at Science Museum Oklahoma.

“We are thrilled with the selection of the Class of 2010, and we are excited to celebrate the remarkable careers of these icons on our sport,” commented Bart Conner, the President of the Board of the IGHOF.

For more information about the IGHOF, visit http://www.ighof.com.

(Source: IGHOF)

1st Youth Olympic Games
Singapore (SIN), August 14 – 26, 2010

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, March 4, 2010: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently held a contest to select the design that would adorn the front side of the first Youth Olympic Games medals. The Games are set for August 14 - 26, 2010 in Singapore.

Candidates were asked to submit their entries by December 4, 2009, after which time Internet users could vote for their favourite pick up until January 22, 2010. In the final round, the 10 most popular projects were presented to an IOC-appointed jury for selection of the winning design.

The IOC announced yesterday, on March 3, that Setsuko Fukuzawa is the grand prize winner of the Medal Design Competition. For her submission, lucky Setsuko was rewarded a visit for two to the Singapore Youth Olympic Games. Congratulations!

To read more about Setsuko’s project, click here!

2010 Tyson American Cup
Worcester (USA), March 6, 2010

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, March 3, 2010: The United States’ most prestigious All-around international invitational, the 2010 Tyson American Cup will be held March 6 at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass. The event will feature some of the world’s top gymnasts in an All-around format. The USA’s Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich., and Germany’s Fabian Hambuechen won the All-around titles at the 2009 Tyson American Cup. The list of former champions comprises some of the sport’s best-known names, including Bart Conner, Paul Hamm, Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, Shannon Miller, Carly Patterson, Mary Lou Retton and Peter Vidmar.

“The Tyson American Cup is known for showcasing current and rising stars in gymnastics,” said Steve Penny, President of USA Gymnastics. “This year is no exception, and this prestigious field is an indication of what will be another exciting showdown for both the men and women.”

The Tyson American Cup features a mix of the world’s top gymnasts and rising stars. Reigning Tyson American Cup champion and 2008 Olympic Horizontal Bar Bronze medallist Fabian Hambuechen (GER) highlights the international field at the Tyson American Cup that consists of seven 2008 Olympians and three 2009 World medallists, including 2009 World All-around Silver medallist Daniel Keatings of Great Britain, 2009 World Vault Silver medallists Ariella Kaeslin of Switzerland and Flavius Koczi of Romania, 2009 World All-around fifth-place finisher Maxim Devyatovsky of Russia, 2009 World Vault finallist Elsa Garcia of Mexico, and World Cup Floor exercise Bronze medallist Elisabeth Seitz of Germany. Two U.S. alternates have also been named: 2009 World Horizontal Bar fourth-place finisher Danell Leyva of Miami, and 2009 U.S. Floor Exercise Bronze medallist Kytra Hunter of San Antonio, Texas.

The entire field, representing 11 countries, is listed below.

Women
Canada, Dominique Pegg
Germany, Elisabeth Seitz
Japan, Yuko Shintake
Mexico, Elsa Garcia
Switzerland, Ariella Kaeslin
Venezuela, Jessica Lopez
United States, Rebecca Bross
United States, Alexandra Raisman
Alt. United States, Kytra Hunter

Men
Colombia, Jorge Hugo Giraldo Lopez
Germany, Fabian Hambuechen
Great Britain, Daniel Keatings
Japan, Koji Yamamuro
Romania, Flavius Koczi
Russia, Maxim Devyatovsky
United States, Chris Brooks
United States, Jonathan Horton
Alt. United States, Danell Leyva

Click here for complete Tyson American Cup information!

(source: USA Gymnastics / adapt. FIG)

10th African Championships 2010 in ART, RG, TRA and AER
Walvis Bay (NAM), March 2010

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, March 1, 2010: This month, junior and senior gymnasts hailing from Africa will gather in Walvis Bay (NAM) to compete at the 10th African Championships 2010. Competitions will be held in Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline and Aerobic Gymnastics. For Olympic disciplines, junior tournaments will qualify eligible gymnasts for the 1st Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Singapore this summer. With a limit of one gymnast per NOC (1 Group in the case of Rhythmic Groups = 4 gymnasts), Africa has been allocated the following quota for the YOG:

MAG and WAG: 2 gymnasts each; RG: 2 Individuals and 1 Group (= 4 gymnasts); and TRA: 1 male and 1 female gymnast.

In addition, each competition allows for a certain number of what are referred to as NOC universality places, which guarantee the representation of all continents, as stipulated by the IOC.

YOG competition format and athlete eligibility

Artistic Gymnastics

The Youth Olympic Games competition format for Artistic Gymnastics is as follows: All gymnasts (42 boys and 42 girls) compete as individuals in a qualifying event, the results of which are used to identify the Individual All-around and Apparatus finalists. Gymnasts compete on all six apparatus for boys and on all four apparatus for girls. The best 18 male and female gymnasts from the qualifications proceed to the Individual All-around Finals, and the top eight who placed highest on each apparatus compete for the apparatus titles.

While for both the boys’ and girls’ competitions 28 gymnasts qualify via the FIG, 13 spots are reserved as NOC universality places in order to guarantee the representation of each continent, with one extra place for the host country. Continental quotas have been allocated as follows: 14 spots for Europe, 7 for Asia (including 1 spot for the host country), 2 for Africa, 5 for America and 1 for Oceania.

The required age for Artistic gymnasts to be eligible to participate in the Singapore Youth Olympic Games is 16-17 years for boys (born in 1993 or 1994), and 15 years for girls (born in 1995). Gymnasts must qualify at their Junior Continental Championships and may not have previously participated at FIG senior competitions or multi-sport games. A maximum of one male and one female athlete is allowed per NOC.

All gymnasts must have reached the following minimum standards: Boys as well as girls must participate on all apparatus and reach an average minimum execution score of 7.5, thus a total execution score of at least 45 points for MAG and 30 points for WAG.

Rhythmic Gymnastics

The Youth Olympic Games feature two events in Rhythmic Gymnastics: Individual All-around and Group All-around. Individuals compete on Rope, Hoop, Ball and Clubs; Groups on 4 Hoops and 4 Ribbons. A total of 18 Individual gymnasts and six Groups will qualify for Singapore. The continental quotas have been allocated as follows: In Individuals, Europe gets 6 spots, Asia 3 (including 1 spot for the host country), Africa 2, America 2 and Oceania 1. Four spots are reserved as NOC universality places in order to guarantee the representation of each continent. These will have an opportunity to send one Rhythmic Group to the Youth Olympic Games, with an extra spot for Asia as the host country.

Gymnasts competing in the Singapore Youth Olympic Games must be 15 years old (born in 1995) and may not have participated in FIG senior competitions or multi-sport games prior to the event. Additionally, they must fulfil specified performance criteria. In Individual, gymnasts must participate at all apparatus and reach an average minimum execution score of 7.5, thus a total of 30 points minimum. Groups must reach a minimum average execution score of 7.5 points in both exercises, which means at a minimum 15 points total.

Trampoline Gymnastics

In Trampoline Gymnastics the YOG programme schedules an individual competition for boys and one for girls. Each qualification round consists of two routines of 10 skills, and the top eight male and female athletes qualify for the Finals. Each final round consists of one routine of 10 skills.

A total of 12 gymnasts each will qualify for Singapore, whereas Europe takes three spots, Asia two (including one for the host country), America also two, and Africa and Oceania one spot each. Three spots are reserved as NOC universality places.
The required age for Trampoline gymnasts eligible for the Singapore Youth Olympic Games is 16-17 years (born in 1993 or 1994) for both boys and girls.

As in Artistic and Rhythmic Gymnastics, athletes must qualify at their Junior Continental Championships and may not have participated in FIG senior competitions or multi-sport games prior to the event. A maximum of one male and one female athlete is allowed per NOC.

Competition Schedule 2010 African Championships

Artistic Gymnastics

Wednesday, March 3: Competition I, II and IV, Junior / Senior
Thursday, March 4: Competition III, Senior
Friday, March 5: Competition III, Senior

Rhythmic and Aerobic Gymnastics

Sunday, March 7: Competition I, II and IV, Junior / Senior / Groups
Monday, March 8: Competition III, Junior / Senior & AER Finals
Tuesday, March 9: Competition III, Junior / Senior

Trampoline Gymnastics

Thursday, March 11: Competition TRA TUM, Junior / Senior & TUM Finals
Friday, March 12: TRA Finals, Junior / Senior & DMT Qualification / Finals
For the detailed programme click here!

Read a related article at Namibia Sport!

Chinese gymnasts at Sydney OG

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, February 27, 2010: The FIG Executive Committee has ruled in the case involving two Chinese gymnasts suspected of having falsified their dates of birth for the Olympic Games in Sydney (AUS) in 2000, putting an end to the proceedings.

In the case of Dong Fangxiao, the Executive Committee constituted that there was a violation to the FIG Statutes and Regulations. Consequently, the results obtained by Dong Fangxiao at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games have been cancelled. The FIG Executive Committee decision was forwarded to the IOC Executive Board with the recommendation to withdraw the Bronze medal obtained by the Chinese Team including the results of Dong Fangxiao in Sydney. In addition, the FIG Executive Committee pronounced the cancellation of all results obtained by Dong Fangxiao at the 34th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 1999 in Tianjin (CHN), of all results obtained at the FIG World Cup Series 1999 - 2000 and at the Artistic Gymnastics 2000 World Cup Final in Glasgow (GBR) The costs of the disciplinary procedure are awarded to the Chinese Gymnastics Association.

The Committee decided that in the case of Yang Yun the concrete and objective evidence available is insufficient to prove that the birth date indicated on the official documents was falsified. Ms. Yang Yun is awarded with a warning for the declaration she made during the interview with CCTV5. The only mention of age in this case was on a television interview. The costs of the disciplinary procedure are awarded to the Chinese Gymnastics Association.

Considering the case of the Chinese Gymnastics Association, the FIG Executive Committee has decided to award the costs of all three proceedings of the Disciplinary Commission, for not having adequately controlled the birth dates of the gymnasts.

The decisions made by the FIG Executive Committee are final and effective immediately.

Case summary of Dong Fangxiao

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) was confronted with two cases of presumed violation of the age limit for participation in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Qualification rules for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games required that an athlete be a minimum of 16 years old in the year of the Olympic Games.

Ms Dong Fangxiao, competing for the Chinese Gymnastics Association (NF) from 1997 to 2001, participated in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and won a team Bronze medal. The gymnast was registered with the IOC, the FIG and her NF based on identification indicating a January 20, 1983 date of birth, implying therewith that she would have been 17 years old during the Sydney Olympics.

At the Beijing Olympic Games of 2008, the FIG discovered that the gymnast was accredited to act as Secretary at vault, for which she officially declared her birth date as January 23, 1986.

This birth date implies that she would have been 14 years old during the Sydney Olympic Games.

Case summary of Yang Yun

Formerly competing for the Chinese Gymnastics Association (NF), Ms YANG Yun participated in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games where she won a team Bronze medal and a Bronze medal at the Uneven Bars.

The gymnast was registered with the IOC, the FIG and her NF based on identification indicating a December 2, 1984 date of birth, implying therewith that she would have been 16 years old during the Sydney Olympics.

Before, during and after the Olympic Games of Beijing 2008, the media discovered an interview on CCTV5 where the gymnast admitted that she was 14 years old when she took part in the Sydney Olympics. The television report was the starting point for a FIG investigation and the launch of a legal process.

The process

Following these declarations, the FIG launched an investigation in October of 2008. Legal advice from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne confirmed the FIG as the competent authority to investigate the case and draw its own conclusions as to whether the age limit had been violated, and which subsequent sanctions should be issued. On June 20 2009, The FIG Executive voted to mandate the Disciplinary Commission to investigate and adjudicate the case involving the two gymnasts. On December 19 and 20, the Commission held a hearing at FIG headquarters in Lausanne, and submitted its findings and conclusions to the FIG Executive Committee.

The President stands firm

FIG President Prof. Bruno Grandi (ITA) has been a strong advocate of healthy age in gymnastics. The President does not waiver. He rigorously maintains that “young gymnasts cannot be manipulated. Athletes must be protected. To prevent such fraud in the future, a new licensing system has been implemented by the FIG."

Natural disaster strikes in Madeira

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, February 23, 2010: Due to the catastrophic flooding that overshadowed the region, organisers of the 14th International Artistic and Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament on Madeira Island in Funchal (POR) have cancelled the event, originally scheduled for February 26 – 28, 2010.

Profoundly moved by the tragedy, FIG President Prof. Bruno Grandi conveys a message of solidarity to Portuguese gymnasts and local inhabitants on behalf of the international gymnastics community as a whole.

With a strong tradition in gymnastics, Portugal stands out as a dynamic country that organises a variety of international FIG calendar events in every discipline. In 2010, World Cup and Series events will take place in Portimao in March (Rhythmic), Ponta Delgada (Aerobic) in April / May, Porto in June (Artistic) and in Loulé in September (Trampoline).

11th Junior Asian Championships in Artistic and Trampoline Gymnastics
Chiba (JPN), March 13 – 16, 2010

TOKYO (JPN) - LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, February 18, 2010: The drawing of lots for the 11th Junior Asian Championships in Artistic and Trampoline Gymnastics was held on February 16, just one month prior to the beginning of the competition, a qualifying event for the 1st Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

The draw was conducted at the Head Office of the Japan Gymnastic Association (JGA) in Tokyo (JPN) in the presence of FIG Vice President Koji Takizawa, FIG Women’s Artistic TC member and Asian Gymnastics Union (AGU) Women’s Artistic TC President Yoshie Harinishi, JGA Executive Director Morinari Watanabe, and JGA Trampoline Gymnastics Judges Committee Shinya Muto.

The draw was held after the deadline for nominative registration. The AGU had registered the participation of 16 federations represented by 123 athletes; a total of 58 Men’s Artistic gymnasts, 42 Women’s Artistic gymnasts and 26 trampolinists (13 boys, 10 girls).

Drawing of lots for MAG Competition I
Drawing of lots for WAG Competition I
Drawing of lots for TRA Competition I
Drawing of lots for ART Competition III

(source: JGA / adapt. FIG)

Albanian Gymnastics Federation

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, February 15, 2010: The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) announced today that its member federation, the Albanian Gymnastics Federation, decided the lifetime expulsion of its Women's Artistic Gymnastics Judge, Mrs Fatbardha Shtrepi, as a result of her involvement in the organisation of the anti-statutory Assembly of February 7, 2009.

This decision has been made by the Executive Committee of the Albanian Gymnastics Federation on February 3, 2010 and came into force immediately.

On the way to Singapore

ABUJA (NGR) - LAUSANNE (SUI) FIG Office, February 15, 2010: Morocco shall, from May 9 – 15, 2010, play host to the maiden edition of the African Youth Games. This announcement was made recently at the Atlas Hotel, Casablanca, precisely on Wednesday February 3, 2010, during the official signing ceremony of an agreement to this effect. The official agreement was signed by three parties: the Moroccan government represented by Youth and Sports Minister, His Excellency Moncef Belkhayat, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa represented by President Lassana Palenfo, and NOC Morocco represented by its first Vice President, Mr. Kamal Lahlou.

The African Youth Games have come to replace the ANOCA Zone Games. Following the success of the latter, which were organised in the various ANOCA Development Zones, President Palenfo thought it wise to innovate, giving the games a continental dimension by organising them at the same venue and period.

The event aims, among others, to foster such Olympic values like peace, tolerance, solidarity and fraternity among Africans through sport, bring together Africa’s sporting youths aged 15 to 17 to celebrate excellence and prepare them for world class competitions.
This maiden edition shall feature a good number of sports disciplines: athletics, rowing, basketball (3 vs 3), boxing, cycling, fencing, football, gymnastics, judo, wrestling, swimming, taekwondo, tennis and table tennis.

Sport - Education - Culture

Besides the sporting aspect, the African Youth Games are also meant to be a major educational and cultural jamboree. As a matter of fact, they shall also feature educational programmes that bear on Olympic values, as well as initiatives aimed at promoting health and social cohesion, and checking doping, racism and violence.

Three venues, namely Rabat, Casablanca and Salé, have already been earmarked to host this Olympic festival, which is expected to bring together 1200 athletes from 53 NOCs. This maiden edition of the African Youth Games shall be celebrated barely three months before the Youth Olympic Games billed for Singapore in August 2010. They shall thus afford African NOCs an excellent opportunity to prepare their athletes for this world class event.

Reacting to the signing of the protocol agreement in Casablanca, the President of ANOCA, General Lassana Palenfo, underscored that the African Youth Games shall use sport as a tool to foster friendship, unity and peace among nations of the continent.

2nd Youth Olympic Games 2014

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, February 11, 2010: On February 10, the International Olympic Committee elected Nanjing (CHN), as the host city of the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2014 during the 122nd IOC Session in Vancouver (CAN). Nanjing received 47 votes to edge out runner-up Poznan, Poland, which received 42 votes. Last month Guadalajara (MEX) withdrew from the race.

All the international Gymnastics Community congratulates China and Nanjing and is looking forward to sharing the spirit of the Youth Olympic Games, in a City that is remembered for having hosted the FIG Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships in 2006.

The spirit of the Youth Olympic Games

The IOC established the Youth Olympics in an effort to shore up dwindling support for the Games among younger people and to fight obesity among teenagers. Some 3,600 athletes ranging in ages from 15 to 18 are expected to compete at the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing in 2014, which will feature competitions in 26 sports.

The Youth Olympic Games are the culmination of the IOC’s determination to reach out to young people. Far more than merely being about competition, the Games are also a platform on which young people can learn about the Olympic values and the benefits of sport, while
The first Youth Olympic Games will be held in August this year in Singapore. The first Winter edition will be held in Innsbruck, Austria, in 2012.

IOC Press Release

Visit of the FIG Athletes' Commission

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Head Office, February 8, 2010: It is with these words that IOC President Jacques Rogge welcomed on January 28 the six gymnasts making up the new FIG Athletes’ Commission. He went on to say “important and empowered to set an example and to be keen to disseminate it around you in your own disciplines”.

Senior Manager of the IOC Sports Department in charge of the relations with the International Federations, Pierre Ducrey commented on the important role of the Athletes’ Commission within the Olympic Movement and on the responsibilities of their members in terms of development and education.

It was the first meeting of the FIG Athletes' Commission of current cycle 2009-2012 and also their first visit to the FIG Head Office in Lausanne. After the welcoming words by Vice-President Slava Corn (CAN), Secretary General André Gueisbuhler spoke at length on the statutory duties and commitments which will be the Commission’s during the coming weeks. Technical Regulations, gymnasts’ licenses, prize money, training and competition conditions, fight against doping were the highlights of the day which culminated in the election of the Finn Jani Tanskanen to the Commission’s presidency.

A former World Champion at the horizontal bar, he will speak on behalf of all the gymnasts and will therefore join the FIG Executive Committee and the FIG Council, a body where he will have the right of vote.

The FIG Athletes’ Commission was set up in 1999 during the extraordinary Congress in Tianjin (CHN). It started to work in 2000 and is drawing everybody’s attention, in particular the attention of FIG President Bruno Grandi (ITA) a former gymnast himself. “We all bear a cultural responsibility towards our gymnasts. We exist because they exist. Our destinies are linked ! » repeatedly said the Federation boss.

This visit in Lausanne to the IOC and FIG head offices was an opportunity for the Athletes’ Commission new members to get used to the administrative surroundings and to the spirit which spurs both institutions.