IFSC Visits the International Gymnastics Federation in Lausanne, Switzerland

IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru, Sport Director Silvia Verdolini and Erica Ricci, IFSC Administration & Development Officer, visited the headquarters of the International Gymnastics Federation (Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique, or FIG) earlier this week in Lausanne, Switzerland.

FIG is the worldwide governing body for Gymnastics and as the oldest International Federation (IF) of an Olympic sport, has participated in the Olympic Games since 1896. With 146 Member Federations, FIG governs a total of eight sports including Gymnastics for All, Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Trampoline (Double Mini-trampoline and Tumbling), Aerobics, Acrobatics and Parkour.

FIG welcomed the IFSC at their Lausanne headquarters to share experience and knowledge, from the seasoned Olympic sport of Gymnastics to Sport Climbing, which is just embarking on its Olympic journey. Sport Manager of FIG, Eunice Lebre, gave IFSC representatives a tour of the federation’s headquarters, before taking the time to explain the FIG Academy System (designed to educate Gymnastics coaches) as well as other development programmes. Kobinata Toru, IFSC VP Sport/Events, gave a huge thanks to FIG President Morinari Watanabe and staff for their warm welcome.

“As we approach the one-year countdown until the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and Sport Climbing’s first ever summer Olympic appearance, the knowledge and expertise that the IFSC receives from more experienced IFs is invaluable. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to FIG for sharing their Olympic insight and welcoming us at their Lausanne headquarters,” states IFSC VP Kobinata Toru.