G ymnastics

G ymnastics History Gymnastics begun in ancient Greece about years ago. It was used in training to keep people fit for sporting activities. In the Greek city of Athens, gymnastic tournaments were held, including tumbling, rope climbing, and other similar activities. Plato, Homer and Aristotle strongly advocated the strengthening qualities of gymnastics. The ‘Federation of International Gymnastics’ (FIG) was formed in Liege in . Gymnastics in India Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) was initiated in . It was affiliated by the Indian Olympic Association (IOC) and Federation International de Gymnastics (FIG) in . GFI is the founder member of Commonwealth Gymnastics Confederation (CGC) and Asian Gymnastics Union (AGU) since these bodies came into existence. The National Gymnastic Championship for men and women was organised in and in respectively. The first national championship for sub junior girls and boys was organised in at Karnal in Haryana. Sports Aerobics was also organised under Gymnastics Federation of India from along with gymnastics. Do You Know? •• The word Gymnastic is derived from the Greek word Gymnos meaning ‘naked art’. •• Modern Gymnastic is regulated by Federation International de Gymnastique (FIG), which was founded in , June . •• Khushi Ram and Veer Singh represented India for the first time in Olympics held at Helsinki in . Apparatus You have already studied in previous classes about gymnastics. In this game, different events are performed on different apparatuses like Horizontal Bar, Parallel Bars, Rings, Vaulting Table, Pommel Horse and some other apparatus specially for female participants like, un-even bars, balancing beam, etc. Gymnastics is performed by both men and women. Men have six apparatus and women have four apparatus on which they perform their routines. Their apparatuses are as follows: Women’s apparatus . Vaulting Table . Balancing Beam . Floor exercise . Uneven Bars Men’s apparatus . Vaulting table . Horizontal Bar . Floor exercise . Parallel bars . Roman Rings . Pommel Horse Uneven Bars Fig. . : Uneven bars cm cm to cm cm cm cm cm Do You Know?