12. Juni 2009  
Frankfurt, Germany  
Happy Gymnastics

British Gymnastics GMPD members visit to Frankfurt.

Hazel COATES, Dr. Flavio BESSI

Two members for the British Gymnastics Technical Committee (GMPD: Gymnastics and Movement for People with Disabilities) visited Frankfurt as part of their publicity campaign to advertise the British disabilities National Squads training camp at Kienbaum in November.
The visit had been coordinated by Eckhard Herholz, Managing Director of the European Gymnastic Service "GYMmedia INTERNATIONAL" for both Hazel Coates and Jeremy Eddon to meet with many of the coaches and tutors that were attending the "International German Turnfest" held in Frankfurt at the beginning of June, as well as attend many of the demonstrations and activities.
The British delegation arrived for their short visit on the 3rd June, staying at a hotel close to the centre of activities, and within easy walking distance of the exhibition halls hosting the whole festival.
After arriving at the hotel we walked to the festival site to collect our accreditation and attend a lecture and demonstration presented by Dr. Flavio Bessi from Germany - also a gymnastics teacher, working worldwide for the FIG Gymnastics Academy.
This was a fascinating lecture and we were both grateful that we did not have to do any of the exercises along with the other coaches present!!!!
Following this lecture we were able to have a long conversation with Flavio where we discussed our proposals for the training camp in November.

... a lot of interest in Germany!
He agreed that there should be a lot of interest in Germany for such an event and made several suggestions on how to further advertise the event through his own contacts.
It was also suggested that we look at the possibility of finding local accommodation of the delegates as the accommodation facilities at Kiennbaum are limited.

The following morning we had arranged to meet with Dr. Gudrun Paul – one of the top festival organiser – but this had to be a short introduction and welcome to the festival as she was very busy with organising various activities.
We were able, however, to meet with a member of the press where we gave full details of the work that GMPD has done in South Africa and Gran Canaria over the last two years and why we, at British Gymnastics, thought that it was important to concentrate in following up this work in Europe, particularly such a central European venue in Germany and fantastic facilities offered by the Kienbaum Gymnastics Centre.
During the afternoon and following morning we were able to attend other displays and workshops and visit the trade fair. 

Jeremy Eddon, Hazel Coates

British ambassadors of very good British ideas...!

The facilities in which the Frankfurt Turnfest was held in and around the various buildings in the centre of Frankfurt were absolutely incredible.
The lectures, tutorials and demonstrations covered a very wide range of sports equipment and activities and ran efficiently and smoothly throughout the time we were able to attend in our short visit.
Both Hazel and I were also able to watch the Aerobics Championships and talk to several of the coaches and spectators at that competition venue.
An excellent festival – well worth visiting and very useful for our mission for the future visit to Berlin in 2009 November.

* Reported by Jeremy EDDON, GBR, TC GMPD