Fédération internationale catholique d'éducation physique et sportive

The Fédération internationale catholique d’éducation physique et sportive^[1] – FICEP^[1] – is an international nongovernmental organization (INGO), which governs all sports associations related to Catholicism. The FICEP has been founded between 1906 and 1911, under the auspices of the Italian federation – FASCI^[2] –, as well as by the Belgium federation – FBCG^[3] – and the Fédération sportive et culturelle de France.^[4] Its spreading is mainly confined to Europe, in spite of various and recurrent attempts aimed to increase its geographical expansion after the World War II.^[5]

History

UIOCEP

In 1906, the Fédération gymnastique et sportive des patronages de France (FGSPF), the Fédération belge catholique de gymnastique (FBCG) and the FASCA (Italy) begins their first steps, in order to encourage the practice of sports throughout the diversity of catholic federations.^[6]

In 1908, under the auspices of Pope Pius X, in Rome, the association brings together about 2,000 participants; they come from all over the world, including: France, Belgium, Ireland, Canada and Italy.

Memorial plaque on the birthplace of Dr. Paul Marie Michaux, located at 8 rue Mazelle, in Metz, France.

In 1911, at the international competition of gymnastics of Nancy (France), the creation of the International Union is the result of an initiative from Dr. Paul Michaux, who is the founder and the president of the Fédération gymnastique et sportive des patronages de France. There is a plaque^{[NB 1]}, which commemorates this event; it is added to the facade of the birthplace of Dr. Paul Michaux; it is located at number 8 of rue Mazelle, in Metz, (France). The original designation of the new institution – as it was established under the chairmanship of Count Mario di Carpegna – is named Union internationale des œuvres catholiques d’éducation physique^[7] · ^[8]. The Baron de Dieudonné (from Belgium) and Dr. Paul Michaux are elected as vice-presidents of the aforesaid UIOCEP; Charles Simon is confirmed in his General Secretary^[9] nomination and it is agreed that the head office would be that of FGSPF,^[10] located at Place Saint-Thomas d'Aquin 5, Paris, France.

December 13 – 14, 1911: all statutes and regulations are finalized and duly ratified in Rome.

At the end of year 1913, the first General Assembly of the association of athletes is held in Rome.

In 1920, the acceptance of Germany (DJK) is considered as being irrelevant by Alsatian members, given that the Avant-garde du Rhin had joined the FSGPF during the previous year. Thus, much diplomatic sense is required from Paul Michaux, in order to allow him to persuade his friend Auguste Biecheler of the potential merits relating to such an unconventional approach. That same year the presidency is entrusted to F. Van de Kerkhove.^[11]

Since 1922, the possibility of including women in the sports world begins to grow in the Catholic memberships of OREL (Czechoslovakia) which has already accepted women as being part and parcel of their inner structures. This question, endlessly debated, will not manage to find any satisfying outcome, at least, not before the emergence of the war;^[12] thus, the UIOCEP remains resolutely made of male people.

In 1927, the DJK is finally accepted, after the signing of the Treaty of Locarno, given that, henceforth, the detailed rules for the application are in the position to allow the accession of Germany^[13] to the League of Nations.^[13]

Leaders

Speakers

• 1911–1919^[14] Mario di Carpegna – Italy
• 1919–1931^[15] Felix Van De Kerkhove – Belgium
• 1931–1947^[16] François Hébrard – France

Secretaries

• 1911–1915^[17] Charles Simon – France
• 1919–1947^[18] Armand Thibaudeau – France

FICEP

On January 6, 1947, in Zurich (Switzerland), the acronym UIOCEP is altered; it is then known under the name of FICEP.^[19] François Hebrard is elected President and Armand Thibaudeau is nominated as a Secretary General of the aforesaid federation.^[20] The technical committee is entrusted to Gabriel Maucurier and a women's commission is eventually created with Marie-Therese Eyquem as president. The main seat remains the legacy of the FGSPF (France), which is newly baptized under the denomination of Fédération sportive française (FSF) during that same year 1947, in Paris. The former attempts which were aimed to extend its geographic spreading after the World War II have had little effect: like the UIOCEP, the F.I.C.E.P.^[1] tends to remain fundamentally linked to its European roots.^[21]

In 1960, the semantic unit Fédération internationale catholique d’éducation physique is renamed; it is then known under the following name: Fédération internationale catholique d’éducation physique et sportive.^[1] Notwithstanding the above addition, the acronym FICEP has remained unchanged over the forthcoming years.

In 1973, the first international camp reunites young people from various affiliated federations. Since then, the event is held each year in a different country.

In 1980, the FICEP is recognized as an international catholic organization (ICO) by the Pontifical Council for secular (CPL). The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has granted a status A to its intrinsic development, which means that, since then, it is officially recognized as being an international nongovernmental organization (INGO). As such, it participates – as an observer – to the international meetings which are held at the United Nations.

In late April 2011, the FICEP has commemorated its 100th Anniversary, in Nancy, France.

Leaders

Speakers

• 1947–1954^[16]: François Hebrard – France
• 1954–1975^[22]: Marinus Antonius Arnoldus Van Gool – Netherlands
• 1975–1991^[23]: Josef Finder – Austria
• 1991–1998^[24]: Achilles Diegenant – Belgium
• 1998–2003^[18]: Dick Wijte – Netherlands
• 2003–2009^[25]: Clement Schertzinger – France
• 2009–2011^[18]: Elke Haider – Germany
• Since 2011: Anne Cordier – France ^{[note 1] [note 2]}

Secretaries

• 1947–1954^[18]: Armand Thibaudeau – France
• 1954–1991^[26]: Robert Pringarbe – France
• 1991–1999^[18]: Jacques Gautheron – France
• 1999–2003^[25]: Clement Schertzinger – France
• 2003–2007^[18]: Smoly Fritz – Austria
• 2008–2011^[18]: Rosslhuber Rainer – Austria

Member States

Early 2011, the FICEP has included thirteen countries,^[27] which are:

• German: Deutsche Jugend Kraft – DJK^[27]
• Austria: Sportunion^[27]
• Belgium: Flanders & Gym Dan^[27]
• Cameroon: Cameroonians Sports Centre – CCS^[27]
• France: Fédération sportive et culturelle de France – FSCF^[27]
• Italy: Centro Sportivo Italiano – CSI^[27]
• Madagascar: Madagascar Malagasy Fitaizana ny Herin'ny zatovo – FIHEZAMA^[27]
• Netherlands^[27]
• Poland: Stowarzyszenie Polskiej Katolickie Sportowa Rzeczypospolitej – KSSRP^[27]
• Czech Republic: Orel^[27]
• Romania: Clubul Roman Sportivo – CSR, associate member of the FICEP (since April 2011)^[28]
• Slovakia: Orol^[27]
• Switzerland: Swiss Athletic Union^[27]

Further reading

• The FSF from 1898 to 1948. Paris. 1948. pp. 173. OCLC 66302325. 
• Sport, culture et religion. Brest: UBO. 1998. pp. 383. 
• The church, sports and Europe. Paris: L'Harmattan. 2011. 

Notes and references

This article incorporates information from this version of the equivalent article on the French Wikipedia.

Nota bene

1. ^ It may be duly noted, on the writing of the aforesaid memorial plaque (→ see picture above), that the intermediate “E” is curiously missing from all engraved letters relating to the comprehensive acronym of the U.I.O.C.E.P.

Notes

1. ^ (English) Fédération sportive et culturelle de France – Headlines The General Assembly of the F.I.C.E.P. occurred in Kraków, Poland, on April 9 & 10, 2010. In his public speech, M. Jean Vintzel, president of the Fédération sportive et culturelle de France, stated as follows: The General Assembly of the F.I.C.E.P. (Fédération internationale catholique d'éducation physique et sportive^[1]) offers Anne Cordier to join the Steering Committee of the F.I.C.E.P., in order to allow her forthcoming nomination to the post of deputy general secretary, replacing Michel Rocolle – cf. p. 3, paragraph entitled: F.I.C.E.P.
2. ^ (French) Fédération sportive et culturelle de France – Flash infos Assemblée générale de la F.I.C.E.P., en date des 9 & 10 avril 2010, à Cracovie – Pologne : L’assemblée générale de la F.I.C.E.P. (Fédération internationale catholique d'éducation physique et sportive^[1]) propose qu’Anne Cordier intègre le Comité directeur de l’institution au poste de secrétaire générale adjointe, en remplacement de Michel Rocolle – cf. p. 3 – paragraphe intitulé : F.I.C.E.P.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} English translation: International Organization of Catholic Sports Associations.
2. ^ Fédération des Associations Sportives Catholiques Italiennes – its acronymic name, originally, was FASCI; then it was subsequently renamed this way: CSI
3. ^ (French) FBCG: Fédération belge catholique de gymnastique.
4. ^ (French) Fédération sportive et culturelle de France – acronymic name: FSCF – formerly known as: FGSPF.
5. ^ (French) (Laurence Munoz et Jan Tolleneer 2011, p. 275 to 277)
6. ^ (English) Laurence Munoz, The Birth of an International Catholic Federation: a European Matter, 1905–1911, in International Journal of History of Sport, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, volume 26, n°1, January 2009
7. ^ Union internationale des œuvres catholiques d’éducation physique – acronymic name: UIOCEP
8. ^ (French) (Tranvouez 1998, p. 104)
9. ^ (French) Dr. Jung François (2000). "Dr. Paul Michaux, 1854–1924". http://documents.irevues.inist.fr/bitstream/handle/2042/33824/ANM_2000_87.pdf?sequence=1. 
10. ^ (French) (Herve 1948, p. 56)
11. ^ (French) (Tranvouez 1998, p. 106)
12. ^ (French) (Tranvouez 1998, p. 107)
13. ^ ^{a b} (French) FICEP archives, 22 rue Oberkampf, Paris, France.
14. ^ (French) (Laurence Munoz and Jan Tolleneer 2011, pp. 177, 315 and 337)
15. ^ (French) (Laurence Munoz and Jan Tolleneer 2011, p. 37 and 337)
16. ^ ^{a b} (French) (Laurence Munoz and Jan Tolleneer 2011, p. 316 and 337)
17. ^ (French) (Laurence Munoz and Jan Tolleneer 2011, p. 324 and 337)
18. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} (French) (Laurence Munoz and Jan Tolleneer 2011, p. 337)
19. ^ (French) Jean-Marie Jouaret (1999, one volume, page 183). Petite histoire partielle et partiale de la Fédération sportive et culturelle de France (1948–1998). 
20. ^ (French) (Herve 1948, p. 115)
21. ^ (French) (Laura Munoz and Jan Tolleneer 2011, pp. 275–277)
22. ^ (French) (Laurence Munoz and Jan Tolleneer 2011, p. 325 and 337)
23. ^ (French) (Laurence Munoz and Jan Tolleneer 2011, p. 315 and 337)
24. ^ (French) (Laurence Munoz and Jan Tolleneer 2011, p. 121 and 337)
25. ^ ^{a b} (French) (Laurence Munoz and Jan Tolleneer 2011, p. 323 and 337)
26. ^ * (French) (Laurence Munoz and Jan Tolleneer 2011, p. 321 and 337)
27. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m} (French) FICEP. "Country members". ficep.org. http://www.ficep.org/allg/4ident/memb.php?id=42. 
28. ^ "Congress for the 100th anniversary of the FICEP". http://www.ficep.org/allg/new2.php?txid=164. Retrieved May 21, 2011. 

External links

• Official website

	Sport portal
	Gymnastics portal
	Catholicism portal