ICSSPE President Visits German Gymnastics Festival

Berlin, Germany
13/06/2017 13:52

Invited by the Vice President of the German Gymnastics Federation Annette Hofmann and accompanied by Executive Director Detlef Dumon, ICSSPE President Uri Schaefer visited the German Gymnastics Festival.

 

During this visit, Annette Hofmann, who is also President of the International Society for the History of Physical Education and Sport, introduced the concept of the festival to Uri Schaefer and Detlef Dumon. With more than 80,000 participants the Festival is the largest gymnastics sport for all event and at the same time host for a dozen German Championships such as apparatus and rhythmic gymnastics, trampolining, bouldering etc.

 

The German concept of gymnastics is historically much broader than nowadays and covers even sports such as fencing. The idea goes back to Friedrich Ludwig Jahn who in the first half of the 19th century promoted a participatory approach to physical activity and sport, different from competitive concepts that were developed especially in Great Britain.

 

In addition to many sporting events, gala shows, and award ceremonies, 15,000 coaches, instructors, physical educators and practitioners participated in the Academy which provided clinics and training in a variety of areas.

 

The event took place from 3rd until 10th June and was supported by the State of Berlin and by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Germany.