Kick-off meeting Parkour Working Group

Established at the beginning of the year, after a decision taken by the General Assembly at the 2025 Congress, the members of the Parkour Working Group met at the European Gymnastics headquarters in Lausanne (SUI) on Wednesday and Thursday for their kick-off meeting.

Led by former Vice-President Michel Boutard (FRA), the group discussed the latest Parkour news including the World Cups in Montpellier and Istanbul, a proposal for the 2027 European Games 2027, the feedback from the National Federations survey and its impact on the work of this working group and made plans how to meet the objectives set by the Executive Committee in analysing the Parkour situation in Europe from the grassroot level and its potential and defining a proposal to the European Gymnastics Executive Committee for goals, budget and plan for the work 2027 – 2029. A meeting with the World Gymnastics Parkour Technical Committee President Charles Perrière and member Aimene Boustila aimed at aligning objectives between the two governing bodies.

This working group is chaired by Michel Boutard, and he is joined by members Ana Serrao Arrais (POR), Lukas Steiner (AUT), Simon Richman (ESP), Francisco de la Riva (BEL), Mark Van Swieten (NED). Richman was appointed as secretary of the working group while Steiner was excused for this meeting.

Boutard reflects on the work done in Lausanne: