It’s conveniently located close to the train station.
This past summer, on recommendation from Keith Russell, I visited the new digs. And was very impressed with the operation.
Meike Behrensen, F.I.G. Media Operations Coordinator, gave me a tour.
(You’ve probably noticed how well and widely Meike has been getting information out to the world in recent months. I’m getting updates every couple of days from multiple sources. Thanks.)
I felt a bit sheepish entering the lovely historic building after all the less than positive things I’ve had to say about F.I.G. over the years. But you won’t find Bruno Grandi at the FIG offices. Nor
Nellie Kim.
Here the FIG employees work frantically trying to keep all the events and programs worldwide on track.
It’s not easy.
I was impressed with everyone I met: young, enthusiastic, energetic, multi-lingual. To survive working for FIG you must have a lot of good qualities.
On this blog we mostly cover Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics. But in Lausanne they administer Trampoline Sports, Rhythmic, Aerobic, Acrobatic, Gymnastics for All, … and much, much more.
Consider this a shout out for the F.I.G. Staff. We really appreciate what you are doing for coaches and athletes.
Japan has been doing male team performances like this for over 50yrs.
For the first time I found this Men’s Rhythmic Gymnastics website. It’s not kept updated, however.
Rhythmic Gymnastics is a competitive sport under the authority of F.I.G. (International Gymnastics Federation). Currently, only the women’s portion of rhythmic gymnastics is recognized by FIG – men’s rhythmic gymnastics is yet to get FIG approval. The possibilities and opportunities men’s rhythmic gymnastics presents are endless. It is up to each and everyone of us to work hard to make the dream a reality.
Shani Isseroff reminds us that European Championships is in progress right now in Portugal.
24th European Championships for Seniors and 8th European Championships for Juniors and 4th European Age Group Games in Acrobatic Gymnastics take place from 25th September to 4th October in Vila do Conde (POR).
Russia and Great Britain dominated the Age Group competition (11-16).
Shani points out that it’s not getting much coverage on either old media or the internet. Perhaps Senior finals will be interesting enough to generate some press.
Fact is, Acrobatic Gymnastics is my favourite gymnastics discipline. And there are no athletes more sought after for Circus jobs.
GymNiceTic covers Acrobatic Gymnastics.
FIG does a good job of providing an overview, but not much commentary:
… Some 422 gymnasts from 18 national federations will compete at the Acrobatic Gymnastics European Championships end of September and beginning of October in Vila Do Conde (POR) in the categories Women’s Pairs, Men’s Pairs, Mixed Pairs, Women’s Trios and Men’s Groups. …
Tags: gymnastic flares floor exercise gold flips contortionist handbalancing cardinely tricking extrem amazing best great dope insane marius urzica alexei nemov jordan jovtchev zalievsky novikov equilibrist acrobacias saltos backflip double pommel horse clean powermoves split flexibility flexible rhythmic team JO brazil planche push up
An article in the mainstream American media highlighting the excellent club in Livermore, California — the West Coast Training Center — that produces so many of the top Acrobatic gymnasts in the States.
… In acrobatic gymnastics, the gymnasts help each other perform balance and “flight skills” — or dynamics — as opposed to traditional gymnastics, which uses balance beams and other inanimate structures. The sport, which has been at a competitive level in the U.S. for more than 30 years, didn’t come under the USA Gymnastics umbrella until 2002, according to Marie Annonson, head coach and owner of West Coast Training Center.
Acro combines dance, gymnastics and acrobatic and tumbling skills. Performers have three different routines: “balance,” where the partners will hold positions for three seconds; “dynamic,” which involves flipping and throwing the person who is the “top;” and “combined,” which is performed only at the “elite” level and combines dynamic and balance routines. …
All Gymnastics, All the time covers most of the FIG competitive gymnastics sports.
In a year end round-up called The Good, The Bad, and the Okay … I’ll mention only those on the GOOD list:
Nastia Liukin.
Texas.
Marcela Lopez.
Corrie Lothrop.
Canadian trampoliners.
Eastern bloc rhythmic and acrobatic gymnastics.
Yevgeniya Kanaeva.
Japan and Australia. And even Brazil.
Inna Zhukova.
Belarus.
China.
At the age of 16 Shawn won nationals, trials, 3 olympic silver medals and a gold medal becoming a millionaire in the process. On what planet is that not a good year? I’m so sick of Nastia fan girls trying to diminish Shawn.
Obviously Shawn is not only one of the great success stories of 2008, but of the entire history of gymnastics. She and her coaches are role models for us all.
Sadly, when you are the Olympic favourite, a Silver medal seems a disappointment to many.
Olympic Champion Yevgeniya Kanaeva will be competing at the LA Lights competition in Los Angeles in January.
One of the great names in gymnastics history, Canadian gymnast Jackie Bender, did the best one arm handstands, one arm press, jump to one arm handstand, planche, and reverse planche I’ve ever seen.
I was happy to see her featured on the excellent Gymnastics Crossing blog. (Click through to watch her 1991 Beam routine.)
In fact, some of the footage I videotaped myself at a clinic with her coach, Mr. B, at CanAm Gym Club in Saskatoon after the 1991 Canadian National Championships. Good memories.
A coach and three Russian acrobatic gymnasts perished in a fire that ravaged their hotel the night of Saturday, August 30-31, 2008: Gymnasts Anastasia Golovitnina, Anna Maryina and Olga Gofman and their coach Svetlana Kushu – the foursome was training in Gelendjik (RUS), a coastal town on the Black Sea not far from Socchi and Krasnodar.
Lightning hit the building causing an immediate blaze.
Swiftly moving flames and a caving roof left the victims with no chance of escape…
The gymnasts were training in preparation for the Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships set for Glasgow (GBR), October 10 – 12
In a state of shock and grief, FIG President Prof. Bruno Grandi (ITA) expressed his distress and consternation on behalf of the international gymnastics community, addressing his condolences to the bereaved, and to gymnasts of the Russian Federation (FSAR) and Acrobatic throughout the world.
GymMedia.com
This is tragic.
I attended the USA Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships the past 3 years. It’s my favourite of the gymnastics sports.
There are so few Acrobatic gymnasts the world over that this is a big blow to the sport.
Meike Behrensen, F.I.G. Media Operations Coordinator, gave me a tour. 
