Lausanne (SUI) / FIG Office, May 29, 2013: According to the International Gymnastics Federation, at the meeting between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board and the Association of the Summer Olympic Federations (ASOIF) held on May 28, 2013, in St Petersburg, Russia, at the SportAccord Convention, President Jacques Rogge unveiled a new classification of sports in four groups and in order of importance and merit for their contribution to the success of the Olympic Games.
Gymnastics, Athletics and Swimming are in the first group!
This leading group represents the three main pillars of the Olympic edifice, and includes the historic disciplines that make up the cultural core of the Olympic movement.
Gymnastics owes its pole position to impressive popularity and audience ratings, notably at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2012 Olympic Games in London.