News for All! The Gymnastics for All Newsletter N° 16 - December 2024

Dear friends

What a year it has been for Gymnastics for All!

The Midsummer Madness in Northern Norway provided a great setting for both the European Gym for Life Challenge and EUROGYM, while the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast warmly welcomed our Golden Age Gym Festival participants. Seeing the smiling faces, experiencing joyful performances and watching old and new friends come together at our events, the power of gymnastics never seizes to amaze me. As each of these three phenomenal events merit their own topic, I’ll talk about them more in detail later in this Newsletter.

This year’s Mentor Programme culminated in an in-person meeting during Golden Age. We welcomed representatives from Malta, Estonia and Romania. Their enthusiasm and positive feedback towards the programme, and their plans for the future development of Gymnastics for All, show that we are on the right track with this idea. We’re of course delighted to continue this excellent development programme and in search for new Federations willing to join. Interested? Let us know, but hurry up, the deadline is 6 January 2025.

Time has come for me to bid farewell to European Gymnastics. After 15 years working for our continental federation I got elected to the FIG Council, taking up this role from 1 January 2025. While I am sad to say goodbye to my family at European Gymnastics, I am looking forward to starting to work with the FIG family. I’m handing over the Technical Committee Presidency ad interim to Ricardo Lima, who you all know, and is more than capable of these responsibilities. At the end of 2025, European Gymnastics authorities are up for elections again. I want to take this opportunity to thank my Technical Committee members, past and present, for their commitment, and the event organisers for their faith in Gymnastics for All!

Under the Nordic Midsummer sun, 1250 gymnasts from 11 countries gave the performance of their lives as they participated in the 4^th edition of the European Gym for Life Challenge.

Hosted in the wonderful town of Bodo, in the far north of Norway, 59 groups contested this year’s challenge. Their performances of maximum 3 minutes mesmerised the spectators. Evaluated by experts Wendy Lucas (GBR), Jérome Huebscher (SUI), Nina Amann (AUT) and Catia Rosi (ITA), the groups earned points which placed them into one of 3 medal groups: gold, silver or bronze.

Each group leader / coach got informative feedback by another group of experts featuring Heidi Marie Taksdal (NOR), Bruno Miguel Fidalgo Oliveira (POR) and Gabriele Postuwka (GER).

My Technical Committee had the pleasure to award two additional prizes. The Portuguese club Gimnofrielas Top Acro Gym earned the ‘Wow effect’ title, while Greece’s GOPF Armonia claimed the ‘Best Costume’ prize.

Congratulations to all participants!

We hope to receive the full replay from the Local Organising Committee soon! In the meantime, enjoy the wonderful photos and the highlight video in the 'Galleries' on this website.

Following the European Gym for Life Challenge, the 14^th edition of EUROGYM, European Gymnastics’ festival especially dedicated to teenagers, graced Bodo. 2745 participants travelled to Northern Norway. We were honoured to welcome the following 17 member federations: Azerbaijan, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, and Sweden.

From participating in workshops over the parade of participants and the Opening Ceremony, and the City Performances, to the Gala and Closing, the programme of EUROGYM is action-packed and fun-filled. Highlight for many participants was the Midnight sun adventure, an outing truly unique to Bodo in summer.

Check out the amazing photos!

The Bulgarian coastal resort Burgas welcomed 1414 gymnasts from 19 countries for the 9^th edition of the Golden Age Gym Festival, our Gymnastics for All event dedicated to participants of 50+.

Located on the Black Sea coast, Burgas is known for its ebullient life, the smiling eyes of its people, delicious food, and the power of the sun. A city perfect for the joy that is Golden Age Gym Festival. Waking up to a vast array of workshops to choose from, over art classes, touristic excursions and leisure time, to the late afternoon City Performances where our participants showed off their skills, to the evening’s social activities. Never a dull moment during this festive week!

Launched this edition, the concept ‘Burgas Friends’ links two participating groups of similar size, from different countries, with the aim of helping them mix with other groups and nations, and overcoming language barriers. And the groups loved it! From learning some words in their partner’s language, over the exchange of gifts and supporting each other’s performances, to participating in workshops together and socialising, the participants embraced the idea.

Check out the replay of the Gala & Closing Ceremony!

Do you wish to develop Gymnastics for All in your country? Well, you’re in luck! We’re looking for new federations to join our Mentor Programme!

GET STARTED! The Mentor Programme will support your National Federation in elaborating a strategical plan for the development of GfA in your country and the organisation of GfA activities.

GET CONNECTED! The programme will give you the opportunity to build a network with other federations and share experiences in the development of GfA. You’ll be able to share your experiences with other countries participating in the Mentor Programme.

GET INSPIRED! Visit a European Gymnastics for All event and get new ideas and ways to implement Gymnastics for all in your country.

START OF THE PROGRAMME January 2025 - Overview of your needs and first meeting with your mentor

END OF THE PROGRAMME Autumn 2025 - Final meeting at the Educational Long Weekend

Costs: European Gymnastics will cover the costs for two people per NF for the meeting during the 2025 Educational Long Weekend and the individual costs of the personal mentor over the period of the Programme.

Interested? Contact the European Gymnastics office! But hurry up, the deadline is 6 January 2025.

It’s truly been a pleasure to work so many years at European Gymnastics. As a new chapter begins for me, I wish my Technical Committee all the best! Hope to see you all again at one of the many GfA events around the world!

Hlif Thorgeirsdottir

GfA-TC President