MAG age limit changes

[Martina]

Any thoughts? Comments??? Opinions???

From:
217.158.112.230/vsite/vcontent/content/news/0,10869,5187-191774-208997-44545-296844-news-item,00.html

Lillestroem (NOR), May 23 - 24, 2009

* The Council deliberated in depth on the new jury composition and the introduction of Reference Judges. Practical tests will be held over the course of this year, notably at the World Championships in London (GBR) with the collaboration of Swiss Timing / Longines.
* Council members also focused on the electoral process for technical committee members. While members agree that competency and universality are critical to the decision making process, they remain divided as to which entity is most qualified to select technicians. The themes will be also debated at a legal symposium organised by the FIG in Montreux (SUI) on June 19 – 20, 2009.
* On another note, the age limit set by the IOC for participation in the Youth Olympic Games will have a direct bearing on FIG regulations. The Council discussed the age limit for junior and senior gymnasts with a mindset for the protection of their athletes and in the aim of safeguarding the healthy development of competing gymnasts. In Men's Artistic Gymnastics, the age bracket for junior gymnasts has been moved upward to 14 – 17 years and to 18 years for seniors.
* The 39 Council members unanimously and provisionally accepted the federations of Tadjikistan (TJK) and Montenegro (MNE) as affiliated federations, and Swaziland (SWZ) as an associated federation. The 2010 General Assembly will ratify the proposal.
* The affiliated federations of Congo (CGO), Angola (ANG), Cameroon (CMR) and Cambodia (CAM) have been excluded for repeatedly failing to meet their financial obligations, and the following federations have been suspended for failure to pay their annual dues: BAR – BER – BOL – BOT – CHI – CPV – CRC – HON – KAZ – LES – MAC – MYA – NGR – PLE.
* In keeping with the standard rotation policy, the 10th FIG Council will be organised by the Asian Gymnastics Union in May of 2010. Chiba (JPN) was unanimously approved after Olympic and World Champion Hiroyuki Tomita spoke before the Council on behalf of the Japanese city.
* Disciplinary Commission members were elected as follows: President, Rached Gharbi (TUN), Vice President Mouhamad Youssef Altabbaa (SYR), Members Paul Engelmann (SUI), Marc Schoenmaekers (BEL), Margarida Eugenia Dias Perreira (POR) and Nihad Hagverdiyed (AZE).
* The Council approved the accounts for 2008 and the budget for 2009.

[pintobeamer]

I don't think it's as big a deal for men because they usually don't peak in the sport until after puberty. In fact, I think it's a good idea so the boys competing won't feel the pressure to overwork themselves or anything.