1st Golden Age GYM Festival - a first Analysis
- by Danielle Duchoud/UEG

The Golden Age Festival received a large support from the local and regional authorities. The presence of the Mayor and eleven representatives of the city during the opening ceremony proves it.
"For us, it was indispensable to show that we also give our support to another type of tourism, to active and healthy vacations for a very important part of the population" declared the sport Minister of Gran Canaria.
After final analysis, this first test event will enable them to ask for renewal of the experience to the UEG, and also for a shorter frequency, namely every two years instead of four, which seems to be strongly wished for by a large number of participants.
Source: ueg, D. Duchoud

Both shopping centres also brought their support by offering their venues for the public evening productions. As for the local organisers, the gymnastics club Blume-Gran-Canaria , they declared to be very proud that the UEG entrusted them with the organisation of this first event for the "golden age".
"As island organisation, it is not easy for us to organise championships. On the other hand, the Golden Age Gym Festival is an opportunity that we wanted to take. We believe in this type of events, because this age group is very often composed of long-time gymnasts and represents a huge potential for the UEG, its members federations and clubs", declared Jesus Telo Rodriguez, co-organiser and actual member of the committee of GG at the UEG, on a local radio.
"Through our contacts in Europe, we could benefit the presence of many competent instructors from Germany, Scandinavia or other countries. Our own members were fully engaged in the organisation or as course leaders. For example, the fold dance class was one of the activities the participants asked the more for" , he concluded, visibly very proud and satisfied at half week of this festival. He added: "The presence during a few days of the Vice-President Georges Guelzec, of two members of the Executive Committee and of the Press Officer of the UEG shows us that the UEG fully support this project".

For Rogerio Valerio (POR), member of the UEG committee GG and initiator of the idea of a festival for gymnasts over 50, the success of participation registered for this first edition proves that he had seen right. Strong of the successful experience of the EUROGYM festival for young gymnasts, the idea of which also started in Portugal, the committee of general gymnastics for sure hit the right spot with this Golden Age festival.

The afternoons of the coming week will be reserved for active relaxation with walks, cultural activities, spa, etc. In the evenings, at 19:00, the groups will present their performances to the public on stages installed in the two most important shopping centres of the city.
The 1st "Golden GYM Age" Festival is meant for groups of gymnasts over 50 years.
It is a similar festival than Eurogym, for young gymnasts, with a different target group. This new activity offered by the UEG belongs to general gymnastics and immediately encountered a very large success in participation, since half of the UEG member federations will be present. With the help of the committee of general gymnastics, the organiser on site did not do less than the maximum. Their team is well trained as they organise every year the well-known BLUME Festival.
Source: ueg; photos by R. Kwiatek

Workshop, "Stick Walking"

At the seaside promenade 24 members from Czech, Spanish and German delegation met for stick walking.

The weather here - every time of the year is a dream: 25° C and a wonderful blue sky.

<< More Impressions from the ... working at the Beach!

>> ... a final report and more impressions will following very soon!
GYMmedia, E. Herholz

MGF want gymnastrada as demonstration sport
- by Shenton Gomez, New Straits Times

Gymnastrada instils the basic fundamentals found in all disciplines in artistic and rhythmic gymnastics and is widely regarded as the stepping stone for aspiring gymnasts to pursue the sport more seriously.

"We will start the gymnastrada inter-district championships by the end of the year and this will expand the talent base and bring the sport to more people," said Shanmugarajah. "And hopefully, this will also spur the growth of the sport in schools and institutions of higher learning as well."
Which means the educational institutions will have the students who know the basics of gymnastics.
In the 2005 inter-district gymnastrada development programme which was approved by the Sports Ministry last week, RM 3,070,000 has been allocated for administration, wages, equipment, coaching courses and seminars for 110 districts in the country.

The first phase of the programme emphasises on the basic fundamentals where upon completion, the gymnasts will be exposed to Level One training in either rhythmic or artistic gymnastics.
"We got the approval of the Sports Ministry to establish inter-districts championships and once that is on the way, we hope to expand to State and national level," he said. "We conducted a course two years ago to train teachers to be gymnastrada instructors and we have 900 instructors in schools around the country. We are confident that the programme will be a success as we hope to get the full support from our State affiliates," added Shamugarajah.
And pave the way for the sport to be included in the 2007 SIPMA.
(source: New Straits Times

>> You are interest to participate at the 1st Golden Age Festival 2005...?
Here are ALL INSTRUCTION from the Spanish Organizers in Gran Canaria.

>> ... read more on the special website of the 1st Golden Age Gym Festival (Gran Canaria).

Eine große Delegation vom Tschechischen Turnverband traf soeben ein, ebenso wie die Sportakrobaten Nancy Schmidt und Dana Ringel vom TuS Hellersdorf, die hier als Botschafter des Internationalen Turnfestes Berlin 2005 herzlich willkommen geheißen wurden.

Nach dem Beziehen der Zimmer führte der Weg der meisten Teilnehmer zuallererst an das Ufer des Atlantik, das auch mit einem herrlichen Blick vom Hotel aus zu sehen ist.

„1st GOLDEN AGE FESTIVAL 2005“
Already at the UEG congress in Vienna in October 2003 the delegates were informed about such kind of project. This festival – now for participants in the age of over 50 years! - should be organised in addition to the “EUROGYM” for youths from all over Europe which had been founded already in 1993.
“Everyone should know – also the currently active gymnasts – that it is worth it to stay active throughout your life even if you have reached the “best years” – the golden years“, mentioned TC- president Jeannette Häusler from Switzerland who together with the participants of the meeting went on a tour on the island in order to visit the sports venues, hotels and other event venues.

Nice opening for the BLUME-Festival
The point of time for the meeting – right before the start of the 45th BLUME-Gran Canaria 2005 - was well chosen as all active seniors of Europe were just invited to stay a bit longer and to visit also the BLUME-Festival then.
From November 21st – 26th 2005 it’s “GOLDEN AGE FESTIVAL“-TIME.

The responsible city council for tourism Jaime BOUZAN ensured the guests of the meeting that the region will highly suppport the festival.
A few of the meeting participants will also be guests already of this year’s 44th BLUME- Festival in Gran Canaria – which takes place in memory of the gymnast Joaquim BLUME who won 4 European Championship titles and died at the end of the 50ies in a plane crash.

The 'HAPPY GYMNASTICS WORLD CALENDAR 2004' is a very good guide to the highlights of general gymmnastics, festivals and events for friends of a dynamic and powerful life.

It's a good possibility for clubs, organizers and organizations to publish and to find all topical dates and invitations or to publish their events by the GYMmedia reports or photo impressions: Users from more than 70 countries daily are clients of our GYMmedia Online Service!!

'GYM 2004'
>> So the Organizing Committee of Kristiansand (NOR) is working together with the GYMmedia editors in preparation and realisation of its festival 'GYM 2004' in the Scandinavian summer this year.

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