On February 9, 2008 the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame formally inducted four gymnasts and one Order of Merit honoree, each of whom represented our sport and their country in a most magnitificant manner. Our host, Hall of Famer's, Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci welcomed the inductees to Oklahoma City and to the Hall of Fame. It was a wonderful evening, well attended by guests from all corners of the globe.

This marked the 12th formal induction and the portraits of all the inductees are prominently displayed in our space at the OmniPlex in Oklahoma City. It is a most impressive wall of fame and the new inductees are thrilled to be among those who have been inducted in prior years.

Over the last twelve years, 64 of our sports’ greatest stars and contributors, representing 19 countries, have been formally inducted into the Hall of Fames’ elite group. This also marks the fifth year for the Internation Order of Merit award representing great achievement in noncompetitive aspects of gymnastics. Five honorees from 4 nations have been inducted.

The next induction is planned for May of 2009.

Those honored this year are shown in the photo.
L-R (Shuji Tsurumi (JPN), Ludwig Schweizer (IOM-GER) , Bart Conner (Host, USA), Nadia Comaneci (ROM), Lilia Podkopayeva (UKR), Ma Yanhong (CHN) and Stoyan Deltchev (BUL).

Inductees:

· Ma Yanhong (CHN),
· Stoyan Deltchev (BUL)
· Lilia Podkopayeva (UKR)
· Shuji Tsurumi (JPN).

The International Order of Merit (IOM) recipient:


· Ludwig Schweizer, Universität of Freiburg, (GER)

Watch for complete coverage of the induction event in the March issue of
IG Magazine. http://www.intlgymnast.com/


Read the The Associated Press release in:
International Herald Tribune- Ukraine's Podkopayeva, three others enter Internatioinal Gymnastics Hall of Fame - (Sunday, February 10, 2008)
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/10/sports/NA-SPT-GYM-Hall-of-Fame.php