When I was a young gymnast, the Japanese were best in the world.
Of all the superstars of the day, my favourite was Akinori Nakayama.
With six Olympic titles and 10 Olympic medals, the awe-inspiring Nakayama Akinori (JPN) was a man apart even in the pantheon of Japan’s greatest gymnasts.
An impeccable performer who was consistently among the best in the world on five apparatus during the 1960s and 1970s, Nakayama, who passed away on 9 March at age 82, inspired wonder by winning four of the eight Olympic titles in Men’s Artistic Gymnastics at the 1968 Olympic Games. …
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) announced on Wednesday that philanthropist Ross Stevens had gifted the organisation $100 million (€922,000), the largest single monetary donation it has received in its history, in a move to fund the post-retirement plans of US athletes. …
Worth up to $200,000 (€184,000) per athlete per Games participation, a one-time Olympian or Paralympian is eligible to receive $100,000 (€92,000) 20 years after their qualifying Games or when they turn 45 and then another $100,000 (€92,000) will go to designated athlete beneficiaries upon their death. …
Contagious with the success of Paris 2024, the organisers of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games are stepping up their commercial strategy and operational planning to achieve the $2.5 billion (€2.4bn) in sponsorships needed to help fund the multi-sport event’s budget, which is around $7 bn (€6.7bn). …
Our FIG President went online for an hour-long interview, discussing his campaign to be the next President of the International Olympic Committee in a forum arranged by the International Sports Journalists Association (AIPS).
● “The purpose of the Olympic Games is for as many people as possible to understand Olympism. And to contribute to the development of sports and peace. So, if we will organize this five-continent Olympic Games, we will get many benefits.”
● “For the athlete, each sport will take place in one of the five countries that offers the best climate and facilities for that sport. For the host countries, each country will host 10 sports, greatly reducing the financial burden.”
â—Ź “For marketing and the TV rights, there will be 24 hours coverage and more sponsorship potential. And new sources of continental sponsorship.” …
“In judging sports, we must be more fair. In reality, we have a problem, not just in gymnastics, and in many other sports. That’s why I started [pushing] for the AI judging system.
We need technology, so I think we will see – in this year – in the world championships in gymnastics in Jakarta [INA], we can see with the judging – AI – how is judging in that [way].
“We need more transparent [judging], we need more, better judging.”
One goal that remains for the 2022 world all-around winner is competing the unprecedented Yurchenko triple twist vault, which would have been named the Andrade if she had performed it in Paris.
The Olympic champion revealed that she is still training the skill and might debut it.
“I really wish I could have presented it last year because I was feeling well, but I hurt my shoulder [before the Games]. It worked out fine in the end because I got my medals, thank God,” she joked. …
The short answer is not much, and for FIG Women’s Technical Committee President Donatella Sacchi (ITA) that is for the good of the sport. “Not making critical changes provides opportunities for gymnasts to stay active longer,” she says. “This approach provides stability.”