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Remarks by FIG President Bruno Grandi |
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Ladies
and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,
It is always an honour and a renewed pleasure for me to address you publicly, particularly on this unique day featuring the drawing of lots of qualified gymnasts for the Games of the 27th Olympiad in Sydney. Both this honour and this pleasure are accompanied by concern on my part to regularly present you with the most clear and objective information possible as to the FIGs current state, realities and hopes. Ladies and Gentlemen, I may as well tell you immediately that the 2000s will be filled with challenge for the FIG. And, as with all challenge, there is the factor of risk. This is why I wished to approach the 2000s in the same spirit as a gymnast just seconds prior to seizing the High Bar and taking on a particularly delicate, aerial and original exercise. Understand that the former gymnast in me remembers well that one only masters difficulties by the work one has invested in preparation. But what exactly are these challenges? The first challenge is doubtless our institutional responsibility to the tens of millions of gymnasts the world over. I would remind you that our Federation, which is the oldest established international sports federation, will be one of the most globally observed by the media at the Olympic Games in Sydney. 4 years ago in Atlanta, gymnastics witnessed scores of extraordinary audience, sometimesexceeding even the giants of basketball. Predictions are more encouraging yet for Sydney. All seats were sold long ago and organisers are currently selling places for training sessions on the podium. Satisfaction surely fills the hearts of many within the FIG at the thought of such an audience, as well as with a heavy burden of responsibility. The theme of responsibility, of the FIGs social role, was one put forth by my election campaign. I proposed offering the FIG a culture project, striving towards the promotion of gymnastics, reinforcing its educational and formative role, while developing virtues to be conveyed by gymnastics throughout the world. With the passing of time and considering the size of audience that I mentioned earlier, I believe we are on the right track. More than ever, gymnastics is becoming a reference for worldwide sports. This is due to its growing popular success, on the one hand, and to its socio-cultural role and educational meaning on the other hand. However, the scene that I have painted for you remains tainted. For in terms of popular success alone we could do better. And this is our second challenge. Its more technical and more philosophical! Modernity. Our competitions are still too often criticised for being long, boring and complicated. The voices that are being raised are increasing in number, causing us to watch for lurking danger, the danger of simply disappearing from the audio-visual landscape! It is not a secret that the FIG draws its principal resources from TV rights. And if our "gymnastics" goods are not more attractive, impressive, even spectacular, then broadcasters, TV station directors or communication super groups are going to tell us, without a single quaver in their voices, that "as nice as gymnastics may be, its too long, too boring and no one understands anything!" We were fully aware of the ferocious competition going on between television stations, but ignored the fight among sports disciplines to obtain a place and stay on the air. The message was clear. It was all well and good being the oldest established sports federation in the world, but we were losing a taste for modernity and a feeling for marketing. Faced with this existential threat, a quick reaction on our part became essential. Numerous seminars, working groups, studies and thought have been devoted to this crucial issue for the FIG. The fact that our technicians swiftly understood the message and began restructuring each of their respective disciplines stands out today, and I pay them tribute. We can already assess the results. The way chosen is that of a single Code of Points, equipped with specific rules for each of our disciplines, which, I remind you, are Mens and Womens Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, General Gymnastics, Sports Aerobics, Trampoline and Sports Acrobatics. These reforms are necessary. They are part of the technical project of my first presidential mandate, which included the organisation of new types of competition, the improvement of competition formats and, not an inconsiderable task, the harmonisation of the FIG competitions calendar. Tangible results emerge. The FIG World Cup in Artistics, Rhythmics and Trampoline function. The Aerobic World Series are put on the calendar, event dates are modified. And in terms of the new Code of Points, documents should be ready for competitions in the next cycle! Another theme, another challengem, Training, Everyone knows that without good coaches, there are no good gymnasts. The FIG looked over the dossier and has proposed two original and additional measures: the first consisted in drawing up a teaching programme for gymnastics based on the individuals age, from the earliest years to the latest. A monumental work is available today on CD-ROM to educationalists. The FIG as a whole, and more particularly the authors of the work, have reason to be proud of a reference document such as this that is accepted within international sports circles as an authoritative piece of work. Teachers, sports instructors, coaches and assistants henceforth have access to an efficient, credible and reliable tool. The creation of Academies was the second measure proposed by the FIG. A vast awareness campaign was launched, appealing to 122 affiliated federations, with the aim of creating training and proficiency centres for coaches. Precise goals were set: the development of an individual curriculum, the formation of international expert groups and the creation of a FIG licence for coaches. The holder of a licence such as this would have been instructed in medical, biological, educational, bio-mechanical and psychological areas, while receiving extensive exposure to the Codes and Technical Regulations. Ladies and Gentlemen, our authorities and affiliated members have chosen modernity. This choice has resulted in fundamental changes to our structures. The price must be paid in order that both the FIG and gymnastics absorb and assume the blows that will surely come with the year 2000, which concern namely communications, leisure, sports practise and who knows but the return of sports to its original state, the state of gymnastics. With my kindest regards. Bruno GRANDI President of the FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE GYMNASTIQUE, Lugano 2000, March the 27th |
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