Steve’s one of the best of the elected FIG leadership. Our new FIG MTC Chair.
Q: You said earlier that your goal as MTC President is to “make things better”. What are the issues surrounding Men’s Artistic Gymnastics that need to be improved?
Butcher: “You know, as with all sports the number one mission is to make sure that the athletes are on a fair playing field. …
… for example, one project that I’ve really worked on in the last few months is a revision of the FIG Judge’s Evaluation Programme (JEP). …
Q: What needs to happen to make Men’s Artistic Gymnastics more popular?
Butcher: “What the FIG Executive Committee is trying to do is arrange a competition schedule where other competitions factor into qualification for the Olympic Games. It wasn’t my idea, but I’m supportive …
Q: How do you feel about the current Code of Points?
Butcher: “People ask me about the Code of Points all the time. People say, ‘If you don’t like something, you need to change it!’
Well, I’m the new MTC President, and this Code of Points was decided before I was the President. Actually, a lot of the things in this Code of Points were decided before I was a Technical Committee (TC) member. So I always have to respect the work of the past committees. …
There will be no significant changes affecting the Code of Points for this cycle. Gymnasts and coaches have already made their plans through the 2016 Olympic Games and we do not want to disrupt their goals. …
Q: Twenty years from now, what do you want people to remember about your term as MTC President?
Butcher: “Great communication and improved fairness in judging. What angers me most is when a gymnast steps on the floor, when he’s from a certain country or has received certain high medals in the past, automatically the sense is that he’s going to get the benefit of the doubt. I want the judges to feel courageous …
During his recent sojourn in Lausanne, he worked with his counterpart, Women’s Technical Committee President Nellie Kim (BLR), on synchronisation of the men’s and women’s rules. The goal: making it easier for fans and spectators to understand what is going on during a competition.
God speed, Steve.
related:
Janssen-Fritsen and the InnoSportLab ’s-Hertogenbosch are executing Measurements on Still Rings on the ECh MAG 2014 at the Request of the European Union of Gymnastics and with Approval of the International Gymnastics Federation.
GOALS …
3. For UEG it is a goal to develop an Aid for Jury Members to support their Judgements on Hold Time.
Like “air time” on Trampoline, having a computer calculate actual HOLD time on Rings would make scoring more accurate.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 