03. April 2006  
Damascus / Syria  
Artistic Gymnastics

OLYMPIC SOLIDARITY COURSE in Damascus

Dr. Flavio Bessi (GER)
as a lector in Damascus

Continuing with the huge number of courses held by the FIG in the last three years Dr. Flavio Bessi (GER) was sent to Damascus to attend a 'Course of the Olympic Solidarity' in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee.

Before the course started doubts about the safety arose as the agitations regarding the Danish newspaper were known in Europe. Several Arabic people were supposedly very angry against Europeans because of the offence of their religion.
Despite of that all members of the Gymnastics family in Syria were wonderful hosts as expected. As in other Arabic countries the hospitality and friendliness were great....

Participants of the gymnastics course in Syria 2006

Dr. Flavio BESSI: Technical and methodical explanations

Dr Flavio Bessi, Expert of the FIG since 2003, have already attended courses of the FIG Coach Academy in Porto Alegre and Rio de Janeiro (Brasil), Aigle (Switzerland) and courses of the Olympic Solidarity in Sana’a (Yemen) and Damascus (Syria).
This year he is supposed to attend the FIG Coach Academy Course Level 2 in Trondheim (Norway) and Buenos Aires (Argentina).
The importance of this course was highlighted not only several times by the President Yoseph Al Tabbaa in presence of the participants but also by the following Personalities of the Syrian Sport, who met the FIG Expert:
- Dr. Fayssal Al Bassri - President of the Syrian Olympic Committee
- Nour El-Houda Karfoul - General Secretary of the Syrian Olympic Committee and President of the Sport Association of Arab Women
- Yoseph Al Tabbaa - Preside

In a friendly atmosphere: from left to right:
Ahmad Arsali (Foreign Relations Department of the Syrian Sports Federation), Madam Amine (General Secretary of the Syrian Gymnastics Federation), Dr. Flavio Bessi (FIG Expert), Yoseph Al Tabbaa (President of the Syrian Gymnastics Federation and Course leader), Mr. Husseine (Syrian Olympic Committee)

The Course was both theoretical and practical and was held in English. Translators during the course were the coaches Ishan Hawary and Rabab Al Hares.

Study session in the gymnastics hall

Since Eduard Gevorkian and his brother Arkob are working as coaches in the Training Centre of Damascus the reached level of some gymnasts was quit high.
“I could see a lot of children who want to do gymnastics and with almost optimal conditions. If I compare these children with those we find in Germany, I have to recognize that the differences regarding physical conditions and willingness are outrageous. Concerning this point we seem to be “underdeveloped” (sorry about this word which I really don’t like) and I am sure that we wouldn’t have any chance if they and we had the same promotion or supporting conditions.” Flavio Bessi said.

Only one of a lot of Syrian press reactions after this successful FIG course