30. July 2023  
Amsterdam, NED  
Happy Gymnastics

17th WORLD-GYMNAESTRADA Amsterdam 2023

From today's opening until 5 August, almost 19 000 gymnasts from all over the world will gather for the World Gymnaestrada Amsterdam 2023.
The very first World Gymnaestrada took place in Rotterdam 70 years ago (1953), and Amsterdam hosted it once before in 1991.
Now, starting today, literally hundreds of performances will take place in the exhibition and congress centre "RAI" and the Olympic Stadium of the Dutch metropolis. These short and long performances are all open to the public. It is also possible to take part in the activities organised around the event, such as the Silent Disco at the RAI. In addition, there are many free sports activities in the fan zone at the RAI ...

♦ ♦ WORLD GYMNAESTRADA = biggest amateur sporting event in the world!
        " C O L O R S   U N I T E  "

* * The event takes place every four years and has participants from 59 countries. Participation is open to everyone, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion, culture, ability or social status. Nowhere else will you see so many athletes together, all united by one goal: to have as much fun as possible!
Of course, this also includes performing to the best of one's ability as part of a group. But if a gymnast takes a step off the mat or a somersault is not perfect, it doesn't matter.

* The special thing is ... -
- that no prizes are awarded at the end of the day;
- No one finishes first on the podium of honour,
- no one comes last!

*  By the way, one should not think that the absence of the competitive character means a lower level.
* On the contrary, in these Amsterdam World Gymnaestrada days, the prevailing conviction is that it is precisely because they are not strictly judged that the participants can give their best performance. After all, there is little or no unhealthy tension. The end result is always respectable. The groups have all trained literally for years in their own country for the specific, original shows. All the more reason to visit them.
)* With this welcoming text, the Amsterdam hosts invited to the world-embracing Gymnastrada,
and this was the official welcome and animation video ...:


*Youtube (0341)
* * From SWITZERLAND, approx. 3,500 gymnasts in 82 Swiss groups will take part,
* AUSTRIA is represented by 579 participants from 18 clubs of its 7 national associations;
* GERMANY sent about 2,200 participants from 176 clubs of the Federal Republic, who will present themselves at 18 group performances in the RAI Centre.
* NETHERLANDS as host with thousands of helpers and joyful. open hearts:


HIGHLIGHTS, apart from the countless highlights of this week,
are always the National Evenings, e.g.:
- the Swiss Evening, on Monday 31 July,
- the Dutch Evening of the hosts and
- the German evening on Tuesday, 01 August
as well as the FIG Gala on 04 August as the crowning finale.
.
!! If you want to know more, we recommend the
      ►► English-language bulletin no. 5 of the Dutch organisers.

(c) gymmedia / -ehe-