Nas entrelinhas da ginástica para todos: reflexões históricas e sua disseminação no Brasil

Abstract

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) is a pioneer among sports institutions and stands out for an interesting consolidation of a practice with a formative and massification perspective in gymnastics: Gymnastics for All (GPT). In the meantime, this research proposes to understand the historical constitution of GfA by linking its trajectory in the FIG, as well as its insertion and spread in the Brazilian context. As methodological procedures, we use documentary research with bibliographic input, with emphasis on official federative documents and publications by theorists in the field of gymnastics. The results show that the primary purpose of the FIG had been to give opportunity for people to do gymnastics, however, this initial mission had been influenced by the resumption of the Olympic Games of Modern Era, in 1896. Therefore, aspects of competitive gymnastics, which moved towards standardization and codification of the gymnastics, have been evident for decades. Gymnastics events that continued in European countries, such as Germany and Sweden, rekindled attention to gymnastics and its perspective for all, it means, for active life of any human being, instilling in the creation – by FIG – of a mass gymnastics event (Gymnaestrada) and subsequently, from a GfA Committee. In Brazil, GfA started to be known through the partnership between federations and universities. Currently, GfA potential still lacks widespread, and this action is almost, exclusively, in charge of Brazilian higher education.