Morinari Watanabe will succeed Bruno Grandi as FIG President in January ©FIG

Good governance statutes were adopted by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) during the final day of their 81st Congress here but newly-elected President Morinari Watanabe admitted his frustration that some of the proposals he championed were not passed by the organisation’s membership.

The governing body did, however, agree to install a ruling in its statutes that prevents any close family relative of an athlete in the sport from judging that gymnast in a FIG-sanctioned event.

The alteration was among an attempt to bring the FIG’s governance in line with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as part of the Agenda 2020 reform package, billed as the strategic road-map for the future of the Olympic Movement.

"All IOC Code and Regulations, e.g. the IOC Code of Ethics, in particular the rules concerning conflicts of interest affecting the behaviour of Olympic parties as well as the basic universal principles of good governance of the Olympic and sports movement (implementing provisions of the IOC Code of Ethics 2016) and the protection of clean athletes have been to be applied," the rule states.

It was also agreed to create a "technical coordinator" position, though it has not been revealed when the appointment in the newly-formed role will be made.

They will be tasked with "achieving greater uniformity with the rules", according to the FIG.

Bruno Grandi was made an honorary President of the FIG during the Congress ©FIG
Bruno Grandi was made an honorary President of the FIG during the Congress ©FIG

The membership of the FIG, which grew to 148 with the addition of six new countries on Tuesday (October 18), were involved in lengthy discussions today, with a number of issues fiercely debated.

insidethegames understands that some of the items on the agenda were rejected by the narrowest of margins.

Watanabe, who earned a comprehensive 100 votes to 19 win over challenger Georges Guelzec of France to become the ninth President of the FIG yesterday, is likely to attempt to push through the statutes that were not approved here when the Congress reconvenes in the Azerbajaini capital of Baku in 2018.

The 57-year-old Japanese, who is due to officially take over from the retiring Bruno Grandi - head of the FIG since 1996 - on January 1, told insidethegames after the Congress that he hopes to spearhead “many more” changes in future.

"Sometimes change takes time," he admitted.

Further tributes were paid to Grandi, the 82-year-old Italian who was first elected to lead the FIG in Atlanta 20 years ago, to mark his final Congress in charge as he was made honorary President.

"Your long gymnastics career has been multi-faceted," Canada’s Slava Corn, who is stepping down as a vice-president after 24 years, said.

"You were a gymnast, a coach, a judge, a very competent technician, a professor, an administrative leader both in Italy and internationally. 

"Above all, Bruno, you have been our political statesman and worldwide ambassador.

"I believe your greatest contribution has been your fight for ‘sporting justice’, for good ethics, honesty, and always putting the athletes first."