Hi everyone, I've been a reader of this forum for many, many years, but I don't post very often. However, I was inspired to start a thread after reading IG's brief article about new FIG president Morinari Watanabe's "innovative plans" for the sport. He doesn't actually say anything actionable in the article, but there are a few tidbits that are interesting such as when he says he wants, "to evolve the competition from one for gymnastics fans to the one that generates gymnastics fans." I find it particularly curious since I don't think competitions are really designed for current gymnastics fans to begin with. So... With that said, I'd be interested in hearing other people's ideas about how you would change the sport to make it sustainable (financially, commercially, whatever) and grow the audience in such a way that it supports the athletes, satisfies hardcore gymnastics fans and appeals to a broader audience so it's not relying on the Olympics (or traditional powerhouse countries like the US) to remain popular.
I imagine that most people want to bring back compulsories, stop cutting down the number of athletes per country, etc., but I'm hoping there are other ideas out there.
Here are a couple of ideas that I turn around in my head from time to time:
1) First, I wonder if the FIG can work more directly with individual federations to promote the sport. It's alarming to see countries like Ukraine, Romania and even Australia falling off the gymnastics mat. Thinking about the sport systemically, I just don't think the FIG can do much to grow the sport if the federations can't attract talent or funding for their programs.
2) Second, that code of points. Needs an overhaul, right? A few years ago, Elizabeth Price complained that the current code doesn't encourage some of the more creative or unique skills because they don't carry enough bonus. It made me think that they could experiment with creating a code that is still open-ended but has more constraints on the composition--for example, like requiring A and B skills or putting a cap on the amount of C and D skills. And finally figure out a real way to reward artistry.
3) Lastly, it kills me that TV stations haven't figured out a way to display scores in a user-friendly format. NBC's system of using green, yellow and red lights to indicate a "good score" gets an "A" for effort, but is really sad. Trying to explain to someone how 1.2 (or more) in deductions translates to good or bad is even worse. There's gotta be a better way. Invest in some technology. Something.
Anyway, if you got ideas or just opinions on what's not working for you, I'd be interested in reading them.
FC
How Would You Change the Sport of Gymnastics?
I imagine that most people want to bring back compulsories, stop cutting down the number of athletes per country, etc., but I'm hoping there are other ideas out there.
Here are a couple of ideas that I turn around in my head from time to time:
1) First, I wonder if the FIG can work more directly with individual federations to promote the sport. It's alarming to see countries like Ukraine, Romania and even Australia falling off the gymnastics mat. Thinking about the sport systemically, I just don't think the FIG can do much to grow the sport if the federations can't attract talent or funding for their programs.
2) Second, that code of points. Needs an overhaul, right? A few years ago, Elizabeth Price complained that the current code doesn't encourage some of the more creative or unique skills because they don't carry enough bonus. It made me think that they could experiment with creating a code that is still open-ended but has more constraints on the composition--for example, like requiring A and B skills or putting a cap on the amount of C and D skills. And finally figure out a real way to reward artistry.
3) Lastly, it kills me that TV stations haven't figured out a way to display scores in a user-friendly format. NBC's system of using green, yellow and red lights to indicate a "good score" gets an "A" for effort, but is really sad. Trying to explain to someone how 1.2 (or more) in deductions translates to good or bad is even worse. There's gotta be a better way. Invest in some technology. Something.
Anyway, if you got ideas or just opinions on what's not working for you, I'd be interested in reading them.
FC
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