The Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique was founded in Liège, Belgium. Established in 1881, it is the international governing body for gymnastics and is widely known by its initials, FIG, from its French name.
The organization began as the European Federation of Gymnastics, created by representatives of gymnastics associations from several European countries. Its founding in Liège placed the new federation at the centre of organized European gymnastics during a period when national physical-education and gymnastics movements were expanding rapidly. It later adopted the name Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique as its membership and responsibilities became international.
FIG now oversees a broad family of disciplines, including artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, acrobatic gymnastics, aerobic gymnastics, and gymnastics for all. A frequent mix-up is Lausanne, which is strongly associated with many international sports organizations and the International Olympic Committee; however, Lausanne was not FIG’s founding city. Liège is the specific historical answer.