At the beginning of 1964, the German Gymnastics Federation took an interest in the sport of Trampolining. They took the iniative and invited interested parties to a meeting  in Frankfurt on  4 March 1964

The Frankfurt Meeting on 4 March 1964, thus became the inaugural date of the International Trampoline Federation  (ITF). The Foundation members were: West Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, USA and SOUTH AFRICA  -  thanks to Jannie Jansen we were there right from the start!

Initially the sport comprised of Individual Trampolining only, but two years later Synchronised Trampolining was introduced and at the 1974 World Championships held in Johannesburg Double-Mini Trampoline and Tumbling were added to the sports.

From 1964 until his sudden death in 1992 Jannie served on the FIG Executive committee. He played a major role in establishing Trampoline as an acclaimed sport in South Africa. Even during the years of sanctions against South Africa International competitions took place annually -  because of respect and friendship towards Jannie Jansen. He also served on the Olympic Council and was an ITF Brevet judge in Trampoline, Tumbling and Double-Mini Trampoline.

In memory of this South African Sport Legend the South African Gymnastic Federation plan to host an International Trampoline, Double-Mini and Tumbling Competition annually.

Jannie was a dynamic person respected and loved by all (local and Internationally), a friendly, people’s  person  – Nikki van der Walt summarized his life in a poem, two of the lines read : “you lived your life abundantly, never let a moment pass you by” if this could be a motto in life, what a wonderful life it would be!

Lotto and the University of Pretoria joined forces with the South African Gymnastic Federation to make this event possible.  In 1954 Alexander Natan made the statement that “Sport is a world power” not too far-fetched if we look at the growth of Trampoline world wide, with Trampoline’s inclusion in the Olympic Program, as well as the Youth Olympic program, it is evident that international participation from a young age has become more crucial than ever!

Somebody once said : “Trampolining is easy to teach, straight – forward to learn,  difficult to master completely and impossible to give up …! This is probably true about the sport in South Africa. At beaches, holiday resorts, recreation centres and back-yards trampolines can be found, and thousands of youngsters, jump and tumble to their hearts’ content.