04. March 2014  
Lausanne, Switzerland  
Trampoline

Trampoline turns 50!

AN OLYMPIC DREAM BORN IN A GARAGE!
* f i g --: On 4 March 1964, the "International Trampoline Federation" (F.I.T.) was born, in Frankfurt on Main (GER). The delegates present elected its President, the Swiss René Schaerer and laid the foundations for the first Trampoline World championships, which would take place on 21 March of the same year at the Royal Albert Hall in London (GBR).
In the years that followed, the discipline grew rapidly. In 1988, it received recognition of the International Olympic Committee, a crucial first step towards final consecration, its official inclusion in the programme of the Olympic Games. To achieve this objective, the FIT in 1998, was integrated within the structure of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and finally, in 2000, achieved its Olympic dream in Sydney (AUS), under President Ron Froehlich (USA).
The trampoline was an invention by George Nissen (USA), who died in 2010 at the age of 96. This pioneer had built his first prototype in his garage in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That was in 1936!


Today, Individual Trampoline is one of the four Olympic disciplines of FIG alongside men and women's Artistic Gymnastics, and Rhythmic Gymnastics. In the synchronized categories, Trampoline, together with Aerobic and Acrobatic Gymnastics is one of the most popular attractions at the World Games, which take place, like the Olympics every four years.
* source: f i g, press release