CAPE TOWN (RSA) – LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, November, 2011: The City of Cape Town and the South African Gymnastics Federation (SAGF) welcomed leaders in international gymnastics for the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) Colloquium that brings together thirty-six delegates from twenty-two different countries on November 24-26, 2011.

With a focus on Gymnastics for All, the Colloquium focused on discussion of the World Gym for Life Challenge 2013, slated for Cape Town in July 2013. Upon winning the bid to host the international event in May 2010, and with SAGF and the City of Cape Town being awarded official rights by FIG, a Gym for Life Local Organizing Committee was selected and tasked with the planning of this event. This will be the first time an international mass participation gymnastics event will be hosted outside of Europe. The 2013 event is expected to attract approximately 5,000 participants, an estimated half of which are international.

"We will be welcoming the world to Cape Town once more in 2013 , further proving that Cape Town has the capacity to host world class sporting event and that it is the destination of choice for international competitions," says Councillor Tandeka Gqada, Mayoral Committee Member, Community Services.

In addition to discussion all core topics during the meeting, the Delegates from FIG Member Federations (including Steve Whitlock and Lori Laznovsky from USA Gymnastics) also inspect the facilities to be used in 2013.

In anticipation of the delegates’ visit, CEO of South African Gymnastics Elizabeth Cameron Smith said, "We are fortunate to have these delegates visit Cape Town and are excited to showcase what Cape Town has to offer. We hope they will communicate to their countrymen that Cape Town is ready to welcome them in 2013."

(source: SAGF Media Office)