By Wendy
Bird
A group of Sudbury gymnasts and coaches are currently
participating in the 2007 World Gymnaestrada in Dornbirn,
Austria this week. More than 21,000 participants from 57
countries - 500 of whom will be Canadians - are expected to
participate in this event, which is organized every four years
by the International Gymnastics Federation.
"This will be a wonderful learning experience for our members
and coaches," said Jeanne Jakubo, president of the Sampo
Rhythmic Gymnstics Club, in an interview prior to the group's
departure.
"We are thrilled to be part of this extraordinary event. As
part of the Canadian delegation, Sampo gymnasts will be
performing and participating in the workshops and lectures that
are planned for the week long celebration of gymnastics."
A total of 15 gymnasts and three supporters from the Sampo club
will take part in the international demonstration.
This will be the 13th World Gymnaestrada and it concludes July 14.
"The feel of the Gymnaestrada is very much like the Olympics,"
Jakubo said. "There will be opening ceremonies where people
march in with their respective countries. There will be closing
ceremonies and international nights as well."
The Sudbury group, whose members range in age from 12 to 57,
will perform three times during the event. They will
demonstrate two routines: a skirt act and a ribbon act that
will be performed to Canadian singer Michael Bublé's song "Save
the Last Dance For Me."
The event, which is not a competition, attracts tumblers as
well as artistic and rhythmic gymnasts from all over the world.
Participants of all ages and abilities are invited to perform
at various venues within the host country. This year Sudbury's
Sampo members will benjoying the sights and sounds of Dornbirn,
Austria, a community of 43,500 people that is located in the
Rhine Valley at the foot of the Eastern Alps. The city is near
the borders to Switzerland, Germany and Liechtenstein.
A highlight of the event will be "international nights" in
which different groups will present the characteristics and
peculiarities of their countries using dancing, gymnastics,
acrobatics and theatre during a 90-minute show. During these
special evenings the Sudbury gymnasts will be treated to
performances from Austria, Greece, Switzerland, Germany,
Norway, Italy, South Africa, Brazil and Japan.
This is the fifth time the Sampo club has attended the world
gymnaestrada.
The Sampo Rhythmic Gymnastics Club grew out of the Sampo
Athletics Club, a Finnish based club established in 1951, which
operated out of Sampo Hall. In the early 1960's, the popularity
of Rhythmic Gymnastics began to grow under the direction of
Maija Ceming. After the sale of Sampo Hall in 1994, the Sampo
Rhythmic Gymnastics Club gym classes moved its practises to
area school gyms. The club performs at various functions
throughout the Sudbury community, including the Finnish Grand
Festival and the Santa Claus Parade.
