The FIG (now World Gymnastics) Power Map was created to make sense of a complex and often opaque system.

Based on the most recent available figures from 2023, it examines finances, who funds the sport, where revenue comes from, and whether money reaches gymnasts. Researched and designed by Kevin Howard in response to a commission from G4CI; in the process of the commission, it became clear that understanding the organisation’s structure was just as crucial.

Gymnastics is global, multi-disciplinary, and historically hierarchical, which obscures who makes decisions, who benefits financially, and how athlete welfare is prioritised.

The map exposes the gap between the gymnasts who create value and the institutions that extract it. World Gymnastics controls millions in revenue, sits on vast assets, and sets the rules for the sport, yet gymnasts receive minimal support and safeguarding is underfunded and under-prioritised.

By mapping committees, federations, and funding flows, the project reveals where power and influence truly lie, who defines what “world-class” gymnastics means, and whose voices are excluded.

By visualising these structures, the map highlights how decision-making directly affects athlete safety and wellbeing. Even based on 2023 figures, it provides a crucial lens for understanding accountability, directing resources, and creating a sport where gymnasts can thrive, not just perform.