The History And Origin Of Gymnastics

By Joshua Nelson


Gymnastic exercises are performed with a high level of flexibility, control, balance, and strength. An international organization, FIG, is responsible regulating and standardizing performance of the sport on a global scale. Even with the existence of FIG, individual states have their own regulatory organizations within them which are affiliated to FIG. International regulation is necessary because of international games held annually. Gymnastics is one of the best sports in Olympics.

The Greek language is the source of the term gymnastic. The corresponding Greek word means naked when translated into English. The word could also mean dancing naked in Greek. Ancient gymnasts practiced naked, hence the origin of the name. The term first appeared and started to be used in the 1570s. It has grown in use and prevalence worldwide since its coining.

Gymnastic originated from Ancient Greece. It was originally meant for training in the military. Soldiers got involved in these exercises as part of getting ready for war. The incorporation of gymnastic into military training was thought to equip soldiers with strength and skills necessary for fighting. Inclusion into military training was later stopped, but some aspects of it may still be found in certain militaries.

Germany was the place of birth of modern gymnastic. The birth was pioneered by three pioneers. The pioneers designed apparatus and games for boys and young men. These exercises and apparatus later became what is now known as modern gymnastic exercises. Don Franscisco Ondeano is credited with introducing educative gymnastic in France. International competitions include events like high bars, parallel bars, and rings whose inclusion in competitions was promoted by Jahn. Jahn waw among the German pioneers.

The establishment of the FIG happened in 1881 in Liege. The popularity of men gymnastic had risen to a point that it could be included in modern Olympic Games of 1896. From the first time men gymnastic was introduced into Olympic Games all the way to the early 1950s, the exercises changed a lot on both national and international level.

Most modern audiences would find events that were considered normal back then to be very strange. Participants participated in many events including running, high jumping, rope climbing, floor calisthenics, and horizontal ladder. Participation of women in gymnastic events began in the 1920s. The initial events were filled with primitivity. The events only encompassed track and field activities and synchronized calisthenics. This Olympic Games took place in Amsterdam in 1928.

By 1954, female and male Olympic apparatus and events had already undergone standardization. Formats and grading structures had already been agreed upon on a global scale. Around that time, the spectacle performance of Soviet gymnasts took the world by surprise and set a precedent that continues to date. The television played a major role in initiating and publicizing the modern age in this field.

Today, both male and female gymnastic events have attained the peak of perfection and quality. It is a sport that the whole world finds interest in with several excellent gymnasts originating from all continents. Since 2006, the traditional scoring system was changed to adopt a new system.




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