Coimbra (POR) / Lausanne (SUI) FIG Office, May 20, 2009: More than 4000 Gymnasts perform in the Portuguese Gymnaestrada in Coimbra recently! The city of Coimbra (former host of the 2005 UEG European Aerobic Championships and the 2006 FIG Acro World Championships) hosted the 7th edition of the “PortugalGYM – National Gymnaestrada” that is held every two years. This GpT Festival gathered this year more than 4000 gymnasts in an event that will be remembered by all participants.

The participants were offered with three main public stages (Dolce Vita Shopping Mall, the grounds of the St. Clara-a-Velha Convent and Coimbra Green Park stage) where they could perform and display their routines.

This event also included the Gymnastic National Finals for the School Sports Area and a stage of the National Fitness Challenge.

Apart from the opening parade and daily workshops the 2009 PortugalGYM had two unforgettable Gala Shows, both happening at the Coimbra City Stadium (Euro2004 match stadium): The opening Gala, where the teams from all over Portugal presented the different areas of Gymnastics for All and the so called Mr. Reis Pinto Gala, after 2004 the GFP Board of Directors decided to dedicate the final PortugalGYM Gala to the memory of it’s former President (Mr. Reis Pinto).

This is the “must-be” event and all the participating groups are chosen during the first days of the Festival.

In total where held 250 public performances done by more than 100 groups from 60 national clubs.

The next PortugalGYM will be held in 2011 a few weeks before of the 14th World Gymnaestrada in Lausanne!

SeniorGYM 2009
The Gymnastics Federation of Portugal and the Municipality of Torres Vedras have held the 4th edition of the most important national Gymnastics Festival for the +50 Generation: SeniorGym’09.

This unique national Gym Festival held in mid April attracted more than 3500 gymnasts of the best age (+50) from across the country and offered them a full day of gymnastics activity enriched with an opening parade, city performances, thematic workshops and culminating in a “global” master-class where all participants reunited and performed gymnastics choreographies.

This Festival also offered an exhibition fair dedicated to the “Health and Good Living” theme where all the participants could find information and goods.

The GpT Technical Department is already working on the 7th SeniorGYM – Health and Active Life Gymnastics Festival that will take place in the Portuguese city of Sines next September.