By Nick Butler

European Union of Gymnastics President has declared his intention to run for FIG President ©UEGFrance's Georges Guelzec has thrown his hat into the ring to become President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) when current head Bruno Grandi stands down next year.


Grandi, the Italian who has led the governing body since 1996, has already announced he will not seek another term in office when his current term expires during the body's 81st Congress in Tokyo in October, 2016.

This leaves an opportunity for the likes of Guelzec, a member of the French team at the Munich 1972 Olympics who has led the European Union of Gymnastics since 2010, with his intention to run having been confirmed by the French Gymnastics Federation (FFG).

"I'm sure our candidate George Guelzec [will] make an excellent President of the International Federation, " said FFG President James Blateau.

"Committed for 35 years at national and European level, he has demonstrated his managerial qualities always at the service of gymnastics. 

"He also carries new ideas that gymnastics needs today."

FIG President Bruno Grandi will not stand for another term next year, he has announced ©Bongarts/Getty ImagesFIG President Bruno Grandi will not stand for another term next year, he has announced ©Bongarts/Getty Images



Guelzec intends to unveil more details of his programme during April's European Artistic Championships in Montpellier, but he has already indicated desire to reform many aspects of the governing body as it continues its evolution into the 21st century.

"Gymnastics has an urgent need to review its competition formats to strengthen its attractiveness," he said last October during the World Championships.

"The reactions of the public, the media and television confirm this.

"The time for a fundamental, radical change has come."

The official has also claimed that an innovative gymnastics programme at June's European Games in Baku - consisting of aerobic and acrobatic events as well as trampoline, rhythmic and artistic ones - will "rewrite the history" of the sport.

If he is successful in his FIG Presidential bid, it seems likely that he could bid for aerobic and acrobatic events to be added to the Olympic programme at some point in the future.

He would also become the first French President of the international governing body since Charles Cazalet performed the role between 1924 and 1933, and continue a resurgence of French leaders in international governing bodies following the appointment of Jean-Christophe Rolland as President of the World Rowing in 2013.

No potential rivals have emerged at this early stage, but gaining the support of the European nominations, as seems likely, is generally a surefire way to success as all eight FIG Presidents since the bodies formation in 1881 have come from the continent.