Leaders, coaches and gymnasts from all over the world met at the ACC Exhibition Centre over the 1^st and 2^nd December 2022, during the 51st FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships to discuss the topic of safeguarding and show that any Gymnastics federation, wherever it may be in the world and whatever its level of development, can easily join the safeguarding journey. Singapore Gymnastics also attended the symposium with our General Manager, Karen Norden, representing us.

The symposium, which was jointly hosted by British Gymnastics and FIG with the support of UK Sport and the Local Organising Committee for the World Championships, represented a shared commitment from the organisations to ensuring gymnast welfare is paramount. It built on the work to develop safeguarding principles at the FIG in recent years, which include the establishment of the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation in January 2019, a safeguarding working group with 15 athlete representatives from all FIG disciplines and a Safeguarding Commission earlier this year and the 10 golden rules of Gymnastics campaign, presented in a playful cartoon and video format to appeal to young athletes, which has featured prominently at the start of every competition day during the World Championships.

The symposium showed that safeguarding is an infinite journey and often requires cultural transformation for its successful implementation. “Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” said Li Li Leung, President and CEO of USA Gymnastics, who also stressed the importance of focusing on the athletes and their well-being, rather than medals.

The Gymnastics Ethics Foundation aims to foster this approach by implementing internationally recognised standards of best practice. As a trusted and legitimate authority, the Foundation can pursue what is just and uphold the ideals of justice across the global Gymnastics ecosystem.

In conjunction to the implementation of the #10GoldenRulesofGymnastics, we would everyone to join in and start to do their part to make Gymnastics a safer sport for all. Clubs, coaches and athletes please share with us your photos with the FIG 10 Golden Rules posters that have been placed up in your club.

Please send us one or several photos showing us the poster in your Club. Be creative, involve the whole club. We would love to publish the best pictures on the SG social media accounts and website. Send your photos to sgoffice@singaporegymnastics.org.sg

We will also send the best photos through to the FIG so they too can share these photos on their social media.