The first international festival of gymnastics was organised in 1939 by the Swedish Gymnastics Federation on the occasion of the centenary of the death of the Swedish gymnastics expert, Pehr-Henrik Ling. 12 countries participated in the event called “Lingiade” ever since. A second festival took place ten years later.
At the instigation of Dutchman Johan Heinrich François Sommer, the FIG decided in 1950, to include in its official programme a world meeting of all those who practise general, gymnastics, with the intention of spreading its values and diversity.
The first meeting was held logically in Rotterdam in 1953. It hosted some 5,000 gymnasts, from fourteen nations.
After that, interest in the Gymnaestrada, its importance and the number of gymnasts and participating federations has not stopped growing. Today it’s the largest mass sporting event in the world.
The International Gymnastics Federation awarded the 14th World Gymnaestrada to the City of Lausanne. It will take place from 10 to 16 July 2011. Switzerland will have the honour of organising this event for the third time !
Statistics
Years | Cities | Federations | Participants |
1953 | Rotterdam | 14 | 5,000 |
1957 | Zagreb | 17 | 6,000 |
1961 | Stuttgart | 16 | 10,000 |
1965 | Vienna | 26 | 15,600 |
1969 | Basel | 28 | 9,600 |
1975 | Berlin | 19 | 10,500 |
1982 | Zurich | 22 | 14,200 |
1987 | Herning | 26 | 17,300 |
1991 | Amsterdam | 30 | 18,400 |
1995 | Berlin | 34 | 19,200 |
1999 | Göteborg | 37 | 20,800 |
2003 | Lisbon | 45 | 21,600 |
2007 | Dornbirn | 57 | 22,000 |
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WG Dornbirn 2007 | WG Lisboa 2003 | WG Göteborg 1999 |
