British sports writer Mike Rowbottom put together an impressive overview of FIG Artistic Gymnastics.
A few snippets:
… There has been feeling in the sport that the massively technical requirements asked too much of gymnasts, male gymnasts in particular, with the demands of floor exercises – where athletes have been obliged to pack moves of extreme difficulty into a short time period – being particularly stringent, and potentially dangerous.
In January this year, the FIG duly reformed its code for the next Olympic cycle to Rio, with the emphasis swinging back to the artistic, rather than the gymnastic, element of artistic gymnastics. …
Really?
Does anyone find gymnastics more artistic in 2013 than 2012?
Perhaps. Slightly.
Bruno Grandi:
“I will not settle for the status quo, but rather commit myself to the enormous tasks that face FIG in the 2013-2016 Cycle: synchronisation and simplification of the Codes of Points, transparency in judging and its corollary sport justice, the revamping of World Championship presentation, in progress, with the excellent partnership of Cirque du Soleil. … “
The easiest improvement to make there is transparency in judging.
FIG should publish individual judges scores.
… In the course of the last four Olympics, the number of countries with medals in artistic, rhythmic and trampoline gymnastics has risen. At the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Games, a total of 15 countries earned medals. At the Beijing 2008 Games that figure rose to 17, and at the London 2012 Games it was 18, with Olympic titles being spread around 10 nations. …
A great trend.
One of the most influential elements in this spread has been the FIG’s Coaches Academy Programme, a worldwide education for coaches in all disciplines based on extensive scientific research into how best to develop young talent in each of them.
In statistics updated on November 20 by Harvey Fink, director of the FIG Academies, a total of 158 Academies were hosted throughout 2013, involving 4,245 attending gymnasts.
Of these, 38 were in Africa, 50 in the Americas and 23 in Asia.
read more – Inside the Games …
Philippines L1 MAG-WAG participants 2013
Gymnastics Coaching.com 