*fig press: -- Established as early as 1881, making it the oldest established sport federation in the world, the International Gymnastics Federation (F.I.G.) officially inaugurated its new Head Office in Lausanne yesterday in the presence of International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, FIG Executive Committee members and the Federation’s President Professor Bruno Grandi (ITA).
Back in October of 2005, the F.I.G. decided to transfer its Head Office from Moutier to Lausanne after having dismissed the idea of opening its offices in Neuchâtel. Founded in Liège (BEL) on July 23, 1881 by Coubertin contemporary Nicolas Cupèrus, the Federation has made its home in Switzerland since 1945. It has sat in Geneva, Lyss and Moutier by turn.
The FIG Staff in Lausanne is made up of 25 competent individuals (11 women, 14 men) committed to the departments of administration, sports, communication and technology.
Avenue de la Gare 12
1003 Lausanne
Switzerland * phone: ++41 21 321 55 10
* fax: ++41 21 321 55 19
** FIG Office, Lausanne (SUI), March 04 - 06, 2009
* The FIG Executive ratified the codes of points for all FIG disciplines for the 2009 – 2012 Olympic cycle.
* The 2010 World Cup will be governed by new regulations.
The federations, or candidate cities for the organisation of an event, will submit their bids to the Executive office by June 30, 2009.
+ Tajikistan (TJK) and Montenegro (MTG) have requested affiliation to the FIG. The FIG Council will take a provisional decision in May.
The final decision will be made at the General Assembly in 2010.
Due to a doubtful electoral process, FIG authorities have refused to validate the results of a vote electing new authorities to the Albanian Gymnastics Federation.
* With two seats unoccupied on the Athletes’ Commission, the Executive has decided to name Trampoline delegate Dimitri Polyarush (BLR) as acting President of said Commission. Delegates for Men’s and Women’s Artistic will be elected parallel to the London World Championships, at which time a President will be designated in keeping with current protocol.
* The 78th Congress and General Assembly will be held October 26 – November 1, 2010 in Vysoke Tatry, Slovakia.
*The 30th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships are set for September 19 – 26, 2010 in Moscow, Russia.
* The Japanese Gymnastics Association has submitted a bid for organisation of the 2011 FIG Council, devolved to the Asian Union. A decision will be taken at the FIG Council in Lillestroem (NOR) in May.
* A Legal Symposium will take place in Montreux (SUI), June 19 - 20, 2009. The following issues will be addressed:
Procedures to take when dealing with FIG authorities,
Conflicts of interest and restrictions on holding multiple mandates,
The election of a Technical Committee by the Congress, Council or Executive Committee.
Proposed modifications to the statutes submitted by the Ukrainian Federation,
The fight against doping and the legal responsibility borne by the national federations.
Thore Brolin (SWE), FIG Appeal Tribunal Member, will preside over the Symposium.
In 2009, the FIG organised 24 Gymnastic Academies that touched on all FIG competitive disciplines.
* In keeping with the WADA anti-doping code, a FIG-TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption) Commission has been created. The Commission is comprised of Dr Michel Binder (FRA - President), Paediatrician, Dr Neoklis Georgopoulos, Endocrinologist and Dr Zakia Bartagi (TUN), Director of Tunisia’s Anti-doping Agency.
* FIG Academy expert Keith Russel (CAN) has been named President of the FIG Scientific Commission.
* As a result of conclusions drawn by the FIG Competitions Commission, under the leadership of Wolfgang Willam (GER), calendar conferences will be held with potential organisers of international events to determine event dates.
In Gymnastics for All, a series of intercity events or clubs open to the public may be considered on a mid-term basis.
A complete overhaul of World Cup 2011 organisation is underway. The Commission will present the results of this to the Executive Committee sometime this year.
* The surface authorised for publicityon garments worn by athletes in competition will be increased.
Details on the allowed measurements will be released soon. * Source: fig press release, March 09