| From Wikipedia, free Internet Encyclopedia
Gymnastics is a sport involving the performance of sequences of movements requiring physical strength, flexibility, and kinesthetic awareness, such as handsprings , handstands , forward rolls, aerials and tucks. It developed from beauty practices and fitness used by the ancient Greeks , including skills for mounting and dismounting a horse, and circus performance skills. In ancient times the term implied exercise taken in the nude by men in a gymnasium , a venue for intellectual and physical education.
The Ancient Greeks, physical fitness was paramount, and all Greek cities had a gymnasia , a courtyard for jumping, running, and wrestling. The Greeks tried to introduce gymnastics to the Romans, but the Romans found it immoral and banned the practice. For centuries, gymnastics was all but forgotten. In the nineteenth century, however, interest in gymnastics soared, and a men's gymnastics competition was included in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Over the years, gymnastics has undergone many changes. Originally, men's competition included swimming and running events, and did not acquire its present form until the 1924 Games in Paris. During the 1920s, women organized and participated in gymnastics events, and the first women's Olympic competition was held at the 1928 Games in Amsterdam. Both men's and women's gymnastics now attract international interest, and excellent gymnasts can be found on every continent.
Modern gymnastics, as regulated by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique incorporates seven distinct disciplines:
Of these disciplines, the two sub-disciplines of artistic and rhythmic gymnastics are the best known, having been part of Summer Olympic Games competitions. Individual Trampoline has been included in the Summer Olympics since 2000. |
