 About Gymnastics for All
About Gymnastics for All
The International Gymnastics Federation is the governing body for gymnastics worldwide.
Founded in 1881, it is the oldest established international sports federation the world over and has participated in the Olympic Games since their revival in 1896.
The FIG governs 7 disciplines: Gymnastics for All, Men’s Artistic, Women’s Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline, Aerobic and Acrobatic. It counts 4 Unions and 130 national affiliated federations and boasts a 25-person staff at its international seat in Lausanne (SUI), host city of the International Olympic Committee.
Gymnastics for All (GfA) is the historical and cultural discipline of the FIG. Created by its founder, Nicolas Cuperus (BEL) in 1881, GfA bring together gymnasts of all ages, all genders, of all cultural backgrounds to enjoy the diverse range of physical activities that gymnastics offers.
Gymnastics for All activities contribute to personal health, fitness and well being – physical, social, intellectual and psychological. The focus of GfA is the F4 (Fun – Fitness - Fundamentals - Friendship) and can involve gymnastics with or without apparatus, gymnastics and dance. It offers aesthetic experiences in movement for participants and spectators while providing the opportunity to focus on items that are of particular interest in a national and cultural context.
This makes gymnastics one of the largest sporting organisations contributing to global health, fitness and well-being in the world!
Gymnastics for All is the solid foundation of the entire FIG edifice, and on it rests all six competitive disciplines. It embodies the Federation’s sport culture in its entirety, a culture centred on Man and motion.
Two events are organised under the leadership of FIG Gymnastics for All. Since 1953 the World Gymnaestrada is held every four year. This is a non-competitive event with performances during a week. Around 20 000 gymnasts from the whole world participate. Since 2009 the World Gym for Life Challenge is held and also every four year, on the odd year between the World Gymnaestrada. This is an International contest for gymnastics groups and at the first edition 2000 gymnasts participated.
Definition of Gymnastics for All
Gymnastics for All offers a variety of activities suitable for all genders, age groups, abilities, and cultural backgrounds. Gymnastics for All activities contribute to personal health, fitness and well being - physical, social, intellectual and psychological.
The focus of Gymnastics for All activities is Fun, Fitness, Fundamentals, and Friendship and can involve:
Gymnastics for All can be showcased through either demonstration, performance (e.g. "World Gymnaestrada") or competitive team (e.g. "World Gym for Life Challenge")
Gymnastics for All offers aesthetic experiences in mouvement for participants and spectators while providing the opportunity to focus on items that are of particular interest in a national and cultural context. | 
