26. Juli 2003  
Lisbon / POR  
Happy Gymnastics

12th World Gymnaestrada closed...

On Saturday the worldwide biggest gymnastics event , the 12th WORLD GYMNAESTRADA was finished in the National Stadium of Lisbon/Portugal.
About 22,000 participants from 55 countries took part from 20th to 27th July in Lisbon (POR). The most important festival of not-competitive sports of International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) had an attractive program. The Opening Ceremony, the performances of large groups, the National Evenings, the FIG-Gala and the Closing Ceremony became highlights of this World Gymnaestrada. The most of performances took place on the EXPO area in Lisboa....
Summary of FIG:
GYMNASTICS CREATES THE EVENT!

After four days of activities on the site of the Park of Nations in Lisbon, the International Federation of Gymnastics looks at its first positive balance sheet. To everyone’s satisfaction, the organizers are recording success at every level. The local committee is managing 25,000 participants daily. Its leader, Manuel Boa de Jesus, does not hide his admiration for his colleagues and the 1300 volunteers whose involvement is exemplary.
Professor Bruno Grandi, President of the International Federation of Gymnastics and Member of the IOC, was overcome by this popular success. He remarked that this event will stand out in the history of the FIG and should inspire the international sports organizations to give more credit to popular events dedicated to the culture of sport. In Lisbon, the culture shock is overwhelming, reminding everyone of the existence of an ideal in sport that we must promote without any political or dubious overtones.
These virtues will certainly be recognized Saturday at the closing ceremony, which will be attended, we remind you, by Dr. Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee and Mr. Adolf Ogi, Special Delegate of the General Secretary of the United Nations and former Minister and President of the Swiss Confederation. The presence of these two personalities will be a tribute to both the local organizers and the FIG in their joint efforts to energize the spirit of sport for the benefit of the well being of the individual and peace in the world.
GYMmedia reported directly from Lisbon in co-operation with the GERMAN GYMNASTICS FEDERATION DTB

... more Information:
>>Topical information and reports from Lisbon 2003 (... in German language)

P R E V I E W at the future...:
>> 13th WORLD GYMNAESTRADA 2007, Dornbirn/Austria