03. December 2016  
Cran Canaria  
BLUME-FESTIVAL

BLUME Gran Canaria - a trademark of international relationships

Sen, Jesus TeLO RODRIGUEZ

Again it was a special "Festival of the Hearts" and this in a Europe full of problems:
The 56th BLUME-Festival Gran Canaria 2016, which finished today, was like an island of friendliness and cooperation again. The common sport led people together, differences were blurred, friendships arose or were deepened.
To conclude this eventful 10 days, the Chieforganizer, Jesus TELO RODRIGUEZ (ESP)  drew the next record


BLUME GRAN CANARIA - EUROPEAN ISLAND OF SPORTS
- by Jesus Telo Rodriguez (ESP / GC)

♦ The Gym Festival 2016 was in many aspects a special year.
I highlighted the consideration within the Island Sports Government as large event. Cabildo de Gran Canaria has identified 20 large events in Gran Canaria for the new brand:
"GRAN CANARIA - EUROPEAN ISLAND OF SPORTS". For BGC is a big honor to be included is this selected group that opens new sports touristic opportunities for the future development of the Gym Festival. Further on it is the exclusively event of gymnastics in the Canary Islands, which improves the gymnastics expansion of our discipline.
For the event means a yearly public information program and the participation in all sports touristic fairs in Europe, where Gran Canaria is represented, like for example ITB in Berlin, FITUR in Madrid or WTM in London from a list.

♦ First steps could be shown during the international event this year, where BLUME GRAN CANARIA again was making history for gymnastics celebrating as first gymnastics event since their inauguration in GRAN CANARIA ARENA. The GC ARENA was the ideal space for the 4th International Cup Rhythmic Gymnastics BGC 2016 where we have enjoyed together with 1.200 spectators a beautiful competition, where the participating teams afterwards showed their marvelous routines in several outdoor and indoor stages around the island.

The participation of 9 municipalities (from 21) of the island is a clear commitment for the future towards gymnastics. It is clear that gymnastics is part of their sports politics and that BGC is an excellent platform to show their yearly results. We expect even a higher involvement of additional municipalities that has shown their preparation to be incorporated in next year's BLUME GRAN CANARIA. As BGC Organizing Committee we are interested to join Mogan and Santa Lucia de Tirajana next year.
Spectacular was this year the increment of island groups and gymnasts. We receive more than 450 gymnasts from 5 islands of the Archipelago, which underlines the enormous expectation around the Spanish Gymnaestrada for the teams. Absolutely is Gran Canaria with more than 3.700 gymnasts the biggest achievement and objective for our sports festival. Our target to concentrate so much population as possible around the gymnastics world is by far the highest happiness for the Organizing Committee.

♦ Our foreign gymnastics guests formed the international umbrella required for the 33 festivals and 35 workshops during ten days. The biggest delegation was this year coming from Denmark with approx. 350 gymnasts and we could notice it specially in Ingenio and Santa Brigida. The sports responsible surprised by this Scandinavian friendly invasion, immediately will improve their BLUME program for next year including touristic frame, visiting the aborigines carves in Guayadeque.
2017 will be with us again the National Performance Display team and we with them during the Landstaevne in Aalborg in July.

Germany as second biggest delegation with so spectacular teams, like our friends from TABEA that will be also present during the famous Feuerwerk der Turnkunst this year, are the basic frame for our gym shows in Maspalomas. Saxony with Rhythmic Gymnastics, Rendezvous of the Best and with Aerobic are collaborating every year in a fantastic way.

... the Rope Skippers from Germany were the stars of a lot of stages!

♦ The International Gymnastics Festival 50plus with more than 400 participants is a great success and encourage all of us to improve more our international workshops, that this year were completed with the typical flamenco. The segment 50plus is developing stronger and we need to improve our options for the future.

♦♦ The BLUME Closing Gala 2016 in theYUMBO Center of Maspalomas
was like a colorful caleidoscop of all the phantastic possibilities of this Festival again:
 - our  GYMmedia correspondent Achim SCHÄFER created his special Impressions ...:

♦ Summarizing with more than 215 groups, over 5000 participants, 1.300 not coming from Gran Canaria and 17 countries represented in BLUME GRAN CANARIA 2016 confirmed the unique brand for the only European Festival performing outdoors during the cold winter period.

It is our presentation for the next 57th edition of the International Festival BLUME GRAN CANARIA 2017, that will take place from November 24th till December 2nd, 2017.

We hope to see you next year, sharing with us the sun during the winter time!

Jesús Telo Rodríguez
CD BLUME GRAN CANARIA