Chiba (JPN) – Manhattan Hotel, May 12 – 13, 2010

• The Council has handed organisation of the 15th World Gymnaestrada in 2015 to the Finnish Gymnastics Federation SVOLI. Helsinki, capital city of Finland, making it an absolute majority on the first vote. Other cities in contention were Lillestroem (NOR), Maspalomas (ESP) and Göteborg (SWE).
• The South African Gymnastics Federation will host the 2nd Gym for Life Challenge in Cape Town (RSA), July 7 – 14, 2013.
• Upon proposal by the Executive Board, the Council ratified the introduction of Reference Judges for FIG world championship events. The positive feedback that resulted from a number of trial runs was the basis for this decision. Reference Judges will be present at Artistic and Rhythmic world championships in 2010, Trampoline in 2011 and at the Olympic Games in 2012. All other disciplines will see Reference Judges added to their ranks as of January 1, 2013.
• Also formalised was the concept of flight time, which will be factored into the scoring system for Trampoline competitions. The measure will come into force on January 1, 2011.
• Members rejected Italy’s proposal to bring up the number of teams participating in the Olympic Games from 12 to 16.
• Also vetoed were two proposals submitted by USA Gymnastics Federation. The first called for the reintroduction of warm-ups on the podium, while the second requested that 15 year old female gymnasts be authorised to participate in world championship events.
• Members did, however, agree to add one day to the Artistic worlds programme. They also accepted a proposal put forth by the Executive Committee to allocate one place for participation in the Olympic Games to the NOCs, making places 5 – 8 for the second Olympic qualification non-nominative. All other places remain nominative.
• The 2009 accounts and the 2010 revised budget were approved.
• If by May 30, 2010 the following federations have not yet sorted out their financial situations they will be suspended: Barbados, Comoros, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Lesotho, Macedonia, Paraguay, Seychelles, Tajikistan and Yemen.
• As dictated by the rules of alternation, the 2011 FIG Council will be held in the Pan American zone, May 17 – 23, 2011, in San José, California.

André GUEISBUHLER
FIG Secretary General