WELCOME ADDRESS
by Professor Bruno Grandi, FIG President

Dear Friends,

I have the pleasure and sincere honour of welcoming you to the magnificent City of Kaohsiung, the stage of the 8th World Games.

It is a privilege to share in the emotions and experiences an event of this calibre has to offer, with its impressive bill of gymnasts from around the world. The FIG is honoured to be here in a country with such high gymnastic potential, a country steeped in the fundamental values which are the cornerstones of the success and reputation of our sport.

This event is of major importance for the following reason.

After the test events in 2008 this is the second major competition to be held in your country with a significant participation of gymnasts from all over the world. I am confident that Kaohsiung will extend a warm welcome to these champions, and to any others to come.

As President, and on behalf of the Authorities of the FIG and the international community of gymnastics as a whole, I would like to express my sincere gratitude. Many warm thanks to the beautiful City of Kaohsiung and its surrounding areas, to its Authorities, to the Chinese Taipei Gymnastics Association, to the Organising Committee, to the International World Games Association, and to all those who contribute to the success of this event.

I wish the greatest success to our outstanding athletes, delegation members and officials, and declare my admiration for the many volunteers and enthusiastic public who make all this possible.

With my best wishes, and thank you Kaohsiung!

 
Bruno Grandi
FIG President