Morinari Watanbe was elected in October 2016 and is the first Japanese man/women to head the International Gymnastics Federation. With his professional experience and years spent as the secretary general of the Japan Gymnastics Association, he intends to focus on the development of gymnastics as a major sport.
While visiting, Watanabe will meet with the organizing committee of the 2017 FIG World Artistic Gymnastics Competition, Gymnastics Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee. He will visit the Olympic Stadium and the other competition venues for the championships, and will also stop the National Sports Institute of Quebec to watch the Artistic Gymnastics National teams perform.
“This year’s FIG World Artistic Gymnastics Championships are an important one for the Federation as it is the first major event since the new Olympic cycle leading to the 2020 Tokyo Games,” said Morinari Watanabe. “After the success of gymnastics at the Rio Games we must maintain the interest in our athletes and the sport. We are confident that the World Championships in Montreal will live up to our expectations.”
The 2017 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships will be hosted in Montreal from October 2-8.
For more information about the World Championships or to purchase tickets visit mtl2017gymcan.com