No bad surprises for Morinari Watanabe (photo above). The Japanese was re-elected on Friday, October 25 for a new term, the third consecutive, as president of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). He beat his only rival, Farid Gayibov, 45, president of the European Gymnastics Union (UEG) and Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan. At 65, Morinari Watanabe retained his seat with a comfortable lead, obtaining 102 votes against 54 for his opponent. Four years earlier, the same two men had already fought for the presidency of the FIG. The incumbent had won the day with 81 votes against 47. Re-elected for a new four-year term, Morinari Watanabe can continue his campaign for the presidency of the IOC, where his status as a member is based on his position as president of an international federation. In the same election, held at the FIG Congress in Doha, Qatari Ali Al-Hitmi and Turkish Suat Celen were re-elected as president. However, former Soviet gymnast Nellie Kim, now Belarusian, was defeated for the vice-presidency. She will be replaced in her post by Mexican Naomi Valenzo Aoki.
