Meeting of FIG Executive Committee

Lausanne, March 3, 2015: Summary of major decisions and information published by the FIG Executive Committee (EC) at the close of its ordinary meeting, February 25 – 26, 2015, in Lausanne (SUI), at the FIG Office.

• Following a successful inspection visit by the FIG, confirmation was given for the definitive attribution of the 47th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in 2017 to the Canadian Gymnastics Federation and the City of Montreal.
• The Executive Committee decided on a new proposal with regard to the qualification procedure for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which will be presented to the Council in Melbourne (AUS) in May. The new proposal, which will be compared to the decision taken at the Council in Kuwait in 2014, includes a reduction in the number of team members in Artistic Gymnastics in the aim of providing additional qualification opportunities for event specialists and All-around gymnasts via Continental Championships, World Cups and World Challenge Cups.
• The EC unanimously agreed to propose a new format for gymnastic events at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Buenos Aires (ARG) to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The proposal includes the presentation of other gymnastics disciplines and the creation of an international multi-event competition.
• The EC approved the 2014 accounts and financial report as well as the revised budget for 2015.
• The construction of the new FIG head office building is well on track and within the approved budget.
• Changes in nationality have been accepted for the following:

• The EC decided to study e-learning options for coaches’ and judges’ education.
• The Marketing Commission submitted an initial project of a marketing package developed by the Japanese marketing agency Hakuhodo.
• The EC unanimously approved proposed modifications to the Technical Regulations andCode of Discipline to be presented to the Council in Melbourne.
• The EC unanimously accepted modifications to the World Cup and World Challenge Cup Rules, Accreditation Rules, rules for the assignment of FIG events, and the rules forannual rewards to meritorious federations.
• The classification of meritorious federations for the year 2014 stands as follows: 1- Belarus; 2- Bulgaria; 3- Azerbaijan; 4- Russia; 5- China. Pursuant to regulation, these federations shall be awarded respectively with CHF 15’000.-, 12’500.-, 10’000.-, 7’500.- and 5’000.-.
• The EC unanimously accepted modifications to the FIG Anti-Doping Rules in order to align them with the 2015 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.
• During the World Gymnaestrada in Helsinki (FIN), a medical research programme will be undertaken to prove the positive correlation between gymnastic practice and improved health.
• The EC was delighted to learn that all doping controls executed at FIG World Championships and World Cup events in 2014 were found negative.
• Following the resignation of Ayla Ahmadova (AZE) from her function as athletes’ representative for Acrobatic Gymnastics, the FIG EC decided that her successor will be elected by the athletes during the 2016 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships.
• The African Gymnastics Union (UAG) reported that Gymnastics will be included on the programme of the 11th African Games in Brazzaville (CGO) this September.
• Rahman Alshathri (QAT) was re-elected President of the Asian Gymnastics Union (AGU). The union celebrated its 50th anniversary at its congress last December.
• On the suggestion of the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics Technical Committee, the EC unanimously accepted the proposed apparatus programme for Rhythmic Gymnastics for 2017 – 2024, which eliminates the Rope from the seniors’ programme and determines the type and combination of apparatus during this time period.
• As foreseen in the Technical Regulations Section 4, Trampoline, the FIG Executive Committee, the organisers of the 2015 Trampoline World Cup in St Petersburg (RUS), and the FIG Trampoline Technical Committee agreed that the Tumbling final will be run in the mode of a knock-out competition.
• Aerobic Gymnastics celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The discipline was part of the 2014 Asian Games, and together with Acrobatic Gymnastics it is included on the programme of the European Games this June.
• Due to the cancellation of the World Cup event in Tokyo (JPN) which was part of the current Artistic Gymnastics All-around World Cup Series, the EC has decided that three out of three competitions count for the final ranking and that in order to be considered for the distribution of prize money for the overall series (jackpot) gymnasts must have participated in all three competitions.
NB: The next meeting of the FIG Presidential Board and Executive Committee is scheduled for Melbourne (AUS), May 12 – 14, 2015. —- FIG