There is much to learn from and hold dear in these speeches. Among them is the discovery, time and again, that within the hearts of these champions there is a grace of thought and emotion that matches their artistic and athletic brilliance.

We begin the series with the acceptance speech of one of Japan’s greatest gymnastics legends, Mr. Takashi Ono, delivered June 26, 1998, during the Induction Ceremony for the Class of 1998, in Oklahoma City, OK, USA.

(This translation was delivered by charter member of the IGHOF Board of Directors, the late Mr. Frank Endo):

“Good evening, Ladies & Gentlemen,

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to Mr. Frank Bare and the Board members of the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame for giving me this great honor.

“Since the 1952 Helsinki Olympics thru the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, for a period of 12 years, I was able to participate in 4 Olympics and 3 World Championships. During this period, I have met many wonderful people. I treasure this experience dearly.

“I would like to deepen my friendship and help contribute further for gymnastics. Gymnastics is a great sport that expresses beauty of movement, power and elegance, attracting people all over the world. Through gymnastics, I pray sincerely for world peace and happiness.

“I would like to thank Mr. Frank Endo who has helped the development of gymnastics in Japan and my induction into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. In conclusion, I wish the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame great success.

“Thank you.”

Additional remarks by Mr. Frank Endo immediately followed:

“I would like to add that I was invited to the pre-induction party for Mr. Takashi Ono in Tokyo on June 2nd. More than 300 people attended, paying $75.00 per person. This was a 2-hour standing buffet.

“I represented the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame and spoke about our organization. The Japanese consider the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame award as the ‘Nobel Prize for Gymnastics.’

“Mrs. Ono could not make the trip to Oklahoma City, as she is running for re-election for the Japanese Senate for the 3rd time. If elected, she will become a Minister in the new government. She was also a gymnast and participated in two Olympic Games.”

All of us associated with the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame remain eternally grateful to Frank Endo for both the lifetime of service he committed to the sport, and the grace with which represented the Hall — especially within the Japanese gymnastics community.

In the months ahead, we will continue to celebrate our inductees through their own words, as we bring you highlights from their acceptance speeches and remarks during the week-long Induction Ceremonies experience.

Gymnastics was certainly center stage during weekend-long event, with collegiate, boys and an international competitions taking place. Staying true to the Olympic and paralympic spirit, Bart and Nadia designed this gathering to be as all-inclusive as possible.  From kayaking to archery, rowing to shooting hockey pucks into a washing machine, every aspect pointed toward the simple truth — being active, healthy and adventurous is not only the key to living a vital, happy life…it’s FUN!

Here’s just one of many interviews Bart gave during the event:

Check out this link Shared via http://ow.ly:.

This is, indeed, a perfect example of how so many of our IGHOF inductees have brought to life our motto: “Where legends meet legends in the making”

Please share with us other examples you may be aware of around the globe where gymnastics’ greatest legends continue to promote the universality of sport and its impact on the well-being of society…especially children!

Enjoy! And please send us your feedback on how we can continue to make the new website better.

Home page for the newly redesigned website of the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.

Now those videos are available for viewing on YouTube, and they’ve all been gathered into one place: the Intl. Gymnastics Hall of Fame channel.

Check them out!

Our purpose here is to shine a spotlight on the incredible stories, personalities and achievements of the greatest legends in the history of gymnastics.

Induction into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame is the highest honor an athlete or individual can attain within our sport. As of January, 2012, only 76 gymnasts and lifetime achievement honorees, representing 20 nations, have been enshrined.

Our distinguished Honorees are among the most recognized and revered citizens in their native countries, and beyond. And if you are an avid or even a casual fan of our sport, you know that many of our legends are on a first-name basis with wider world itself: Olga… Nadia… Mary Lou…

And so, while our mission is to preserve, promote and share the achievements of all our legends, there is an even higher purpose driving the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Our purpose is to celebrate a rare and extraordinary brand of excellence. This excellence has the power to inspire, to unify and to elevate the hopes and dreams of an entire planet –– one tiny Olympic hero, one charismatic World Champion, one visionary sportsman and sportswoman at a time!

We invite you to join us in this endeavor, and help spread the word and share the stories behind some of the greatest athletes and champions the world has ever known!