Sport and Games Atlas

How The Game Is Played
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme

Switch Atlas

Governing Body

World Gymnastics

Also Known As FIG, Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (name carried until December 2025)
International Sport Federations

Founded 23 July 1881 in Liege as the European Federation of Gymnastics, this body is the oldest existing international sports organization in the world. As the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique it grew to 161 national federations by 2023, and it took its current name, World Gymnastics, in December 2025. After Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine it barred Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, restrictions it lifted on 18 May 2026. Age eligibility rules, intended to protect young athletes, have caused controversy of their own with documented cases of age falsification. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Body Type
International federation 1
Founded
1881 1
Founded 23 July 1881 in Liege, Belgium as the European Federation of Gymnastics with three member countries, making it the worlds oldest existing international sports organization.
Headquarters
Lausanne, Switzerland (since 2016) 1
Founders
Founded 23 July 1881 in Liege, Belgium, as the European Federation of Gymnastics, with three member countries: Belgium, France and the Netherlands. 1
Connections

Associated With

British Gymnastics, Governing Bodies
International Olympic Committee (IOC), Governing Bodies
Olympic Games, Competitions
Source Wikipedia, International Gymnastics Federation
USA Gymnastics, Governing Bodies
Source About USA Gymnastics (usagym.org)

Governs

Gymnastics, Sports
Source Wikipedia, International Gymnastics Federation

Long-Form Articles

From Three European Members to Seven Disciplines: How World Gymnastics Is Built, Articles
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Wikipedia, International Gymnastics Federation
Wikimedia Foundation
  • History section, founding paragraph
    It was founded on 23 July 1881 in Liege, Belgium. Originally called the European Federation of Gymnastics, it had three member countries, Belgium, France and the Netherlands, until 1921.
  • Governs: Gymnastics
  • Associated With: Olympic Games, Lead section
    Additionally, the federation is responsible for determining gymnasts' age eligibility to participate in the Olympics.
View the Source
About USA Gymnastics (usagym.org)
Associated With: USA Gymnastics, About page, opening description
Quote, Associated With: USA Gymnastics, About page, opening description
is the only organization recognized by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the International Gymnastics Federation
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.