APRIL FOOL S DAY!EU Regulation: Compulsory Helmet use in Wheel Gymnastics causes much confusen

Dave Ettelson (USA) vom
Club 'Wheel Jam' Chikago aus Glencoe

The news of a new European Union (EU) regulation based on a suggestion from the European Commission and European Parliament making the use of helmets compulsory in wheel gymnastics from July 2013 has hit like a bombshell and led to much confusion and considerable irritation – especially at such short notice before the World Gymnastics Championships in Chicago.
The regulatory text published in the official gazette of the EU in March will directly affect the participants of the World Championships in Chicago.
This has come as a complete surprise to the recently qualified German athletes who have had no advance information about the possibility of such a regulation.

<< The hosts in the US, on the other hand, have been made aware of the new regulation and are ready to use helmets in Chicago.

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The ex-international performer Wolfgang Bientzle (right), organiser of the Chicago World Championships, discusses the consequences with Franz Obry, head of the German organisation 'Förderverein Rhönradturnen'.

On further enquiry by the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB), it appears that the German health insurance companies (Krankenkassen) were particularly active in supporting this regulation.
From July this year on, injuries to wheel gymnasts not wearing helmets will not be paid for by the German health insurance companies – not just in competitions, but also in training.
Last week we visited a training camp in Taunusstein (GER) organised by Wolfgang Bientzle, former world champion and organiser of the World Championships in Chicago. The 30 wheel gymnasts attending this camp were mostly from neighbouring European countries (as well as a few from the US) and we were astonished to see that many of them were already wearing a helmet during training.

Luca Christ from the German club Vfl Lahnstein wearing a helmet during training. The new rule applies to the coach too!

The former German (with dual nationality) Max Brinkmann, who will compete for the US at the World Championships in July, is already used to wearing a helmet.

“In the USA we have already had this rule for a long time”, said Wolfgang Bientzle. He does not see it as a major problem and says that he also used to wear a helmet during training. “However, I can imagine that most people do not yet know that they cannot take part at the World Championships without a helmet. For this reason, we will have plenty of extra helmets available in Chicago for competitors to borrow. They have been provided by a sponsor and will have a small logo on them.”
The camp participants from The Netherlands were also surprised by the new rule, but they are now planning to hold an extra training week at the end of June in order to get used to the new rule.

Despite this new rule, the International Wheel Gymnastics Federation (IRV) remains calm and points out that international athletes are all exceptionally skilled and used to adapting to unusual situations.
Hardly any of the athletes will have difficulties with this regulation.

... no Integral Helmet!
In early May the Technical Commission in the IRV will meet to discuss the topic again and will probably advise the IRV Presidency not to allow integrated helmets but only normal skating or cycling helmets - to make sure that judges and spectators can see who is in the wheel.

We believe that this is the most serious intrusion into the competition rules that we have seen in recent years and we would like to start a discussion to find out our readers’ opinions.

> Please send your opinions to 'office@gymmedia.com