23. Juli 2011  
Antwerpen, Belgien  
Artistic Gymnastics

130th Anniversary of the F.I.G.

* f i g --: Precisely 130 years ago on July 23, 1881, a convention was signed in Antwerp (BEL) establishing the European Gymnastics Union, today known as the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). The founding charter of the FIG was signed by representatives from Belgium, France and Holland; but it was Nicolas J. Cupérus of Belgium who was the association’s architect and original president.
To commemorate the event, the Royal Belgian Gymnastics Federation decorated the Cupérus monument with floral arrangements, a sculpture which was inaugurated on August 16, 1930 and which still stands in Antwerp’s Nachtegalenpark.

Representatives of the Royal Belgian Gymnastics Federation in front of the Cupérus monument

Participating in the ceremony in Antwerp were
- Paul Swinnen, former President of the Royal Gymnastics Federation,
- Ludo Van Campenhout, member of the Antwerp City Council,
- Jacqueline Herbrand, Co-President of the Royal Federation,
- Marc Schoenmaekers, member of the FIG Disciplinary Commission and
- Gilbert Vercammen, Co-President of the Royal Federation. The FIG recently handed organisation of the 44th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships to Belgium and the City of Antwerp; the event is scheduled for 2013.
* source: Belgian Royal Gymn. Fed / F I G