It's official: the succession of the Italian Bruno Grandi to the presidency of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) will be played out between two men. A Frenchman and a Japanese. A European and an Asian. Two former gymnasts. Georges Guelzec, 68 years old, and Morinari Watanabe, 57 years old, were the only two to submit their applications before the deadline, set for May 17, 2016 at midnight. The race for the throne of one of the first Olympic sports will therefore be played out by two people. With an arrival planned in Tokyo, from October 18 to 20, 2016, on the occasion of the FIG Congress.
On paper, everything distinguishes the two applicants, except their common background as a high-level gymnast. Georges Guelzec, the older of the two, has chaired the European Gymnastics Union (UEG) since 2009. He began his second term in 2013. A position which should ensure him support from the nations of the continent, always good to take in a such context. Morinari Watanabe, 57, serves as secretary general of the Japan Gymnastics Federation (JGA). Not bad. In gymnastics as elsewhere, the wealthiest sponsors and broadcasters are increasingly Asian. A never-negligible asset when tackling the final sprint of a political election.
Same contrast in the campaign strategy of the two men. The Frenchman left first, very early, without fear of running out of breath. He has been a candidate for a year and a half. He set a very elaborate program to music and never hid his intentions. He explained the main points to FrancsJeux: “I built my program around four pillars: a modification of the statutes of the FIG for a change in governance, with the creation of a board of directors which would include professionals; better communication; an improvement in our finances; and finally a sports reform. I deliberately placed the athlete in fourth position, because it would be illusory to want to reform him without having first worked on our statutes, our communication and our finances. »
Georges Guelzec advances with his face uncovered. He wishes to modify the terminology of gymnastics, to replace the term discipline with that of event. A way, in his eyes, to better meet the expectations of the IOC Agenda 2020. Ultimately, he aims to see the five disciplines appear on the Games program, ideally from 2028, aerobics and acrobatic gymnastics joining trampoline, artistic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics. To its credit, the success of the European Games in Baku in June 2015, where the competition served as a testing ground, the five events sharing the field and the spectacle.
Morinari Watanabe plays a more enigmatic game. He officially announced his intention to enter the race last month. He keeps his candidate ideas to himself. He will reveal his program as late as possible. But the Japanese can count on the support of their powerful national federation, one of the most influential in the world, with an impressive collection of world and Olympic medals. He will play at home on election day, with the Congress taking place in Tokyo.
In any case, the FIG will enter a new era. Its current president, the Italian Bruno Grandi, will hand over the keys after 20 years of reign. He is 82 years old. Unique fact: the new president will be only the ninth to occupy the chair since the creation of the International Federation. However, it was created in 1881.
