The 85th Congress of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) is set to take place in Doha from October 24-26. A key highlight will be the presidential election, where Farid Gayibov, head of European Gymnastics (EG), will run against the current FIG president Morinari Watanabe.
According to Idman.biz, the congress will see a record number of attendees, with over 500 participants from more than 150 federations expected to join.
On October 25, delegates will vote on the renewal of the governing bodies of FIG, including the president, three vice-presidents, seven elected members of the Executive Committee, and 21 Council members (with quotas for continental representation). They will also elect the president and six members of the Gymnastics for All Committee, as well as the president and six members of the technical committees for all seven gymnastics disciplines. For the first time, the parkour discipline will be represented by a new technical committee. Additionally, two auditors will be elected.
All newly elected officials will begin their four-year terms on January 1, 2025.
During the congress, FIG will welcome five new national federations into its ranks: Antigua and Barbuda, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Kenya, and Zambia, bringing the total number of federations to 164.
The approval of a four-year plan for 2025-2028 is another major agenda item. This budget will enable the organization to function effectively and achieve its goals, including hosting world championships in each of the seven disciplines, as well as organizing Gymnastics for All competitions and other international events. The plan will also support the federation's global education and development initiatives.
Additionally, reports from the independent Gymnastics Ethics Foundation, updates on the FIG Solidarity Fund, and results from the new NF-Insights project will be discussed. Proposed amendments to the regulations include adding Para gymnastics as a new competition category within FIG.
Notably, this is Farid Gayibov's second attempt for the presidency of the international federation. In the elections held three years ago in Antalya, he received 47 votes.
In the Artistic Gymnastics Technical Committee, led by Noha Abou Shabana (Egypt), the national federation's sports director Natalya Bulanova is running for a second term. Eleven candidates will compete for six available positions.
Zaki Feyzullayev
Idman.biz
