Display team Siama at Eurogym 2024
21st July 2024, 14:38p.m. | International
Gymnastics Ireland’s Gymnastics for All (GfA) display team ‘Siamsa’ concluded participation on Thursday 18th July at the GfA international display event Eurogym in Bodø, Norway.
The team of 22 gymnasts aged 11-18 years from Arklow Gymnastics Club’s Display Squad made history this July 2024 when they carried the Irish flag around Bodø, Norway, making them the first ever GfA display team to participate in Eurogym, a non-competitive, six-day display gymnastics festival, which brought together over 6,000 athletes from different countries to perform on an international stage.
Commenting about the event, Aimi Baker, Gymnastics Ireland’s Participation, Club Development and Inclusion Director said:
“Gymnastics Ireland, with the support of Sport Irelands’ Women in Sport, has been investing in the development of our GfA Display programme for the past 2 ½ years. Our research ‘The Gymnasts Voice’ highlighted that our teenagers want more opportunities to do non-competitive gymnastics as well as a more sociable gymnastics environment. GfA Display is a fabulous opportunity to provide gymnasts of all ages, standards, abilities and disabilities with the opportunity to work together as a team to produce a show piece. As well as being able to perform at national events like The Floor, teams also can take part in international GfA events, and travel as Team Ireland to World Gym for Life Challenge, World Gymnaestrada and of course EUROGYM/ European Gym for Life Challenge.
This is the first time that we have sent a team to EUROGYM, and what a debut trip it was! The Arklow gymnastics team were true GfA ambassadors and have really put Gymnastics Ireland on the map for GfA at an international level. They were a fabulous team to travel away with, and we hope that many more clubs will follow in their footsteps and take part in these amazing international events”.
The team's experience
The team's first city performance was on Monday 14th July, and while there were some nerves before their performance, these soon dissipated as the audience clapped and cheered along to the Irish music and Irish-themed routine and jumped to their feet as the team finished.
“You can’t go anywhere without people stopping our gymnasts to congratulate them on their routine. It’s amazing. They were all there laughing and chatting and next thing the team, our guys, are teaching the others (gymnasts from other federations) our TikTok dance. It's incredible”. Said Michael Kenny, Team Manager.
Siamsa performed their routine for the second time on Wednesday 16th in the Stormen Concert Hall “this was one of the most thrilling and captivating performances of Eurogym 2024.” European Gymnastics Gym for Life Challenge evaluator said about their performance.
When the team thought things couldn’t get any better, it was announced that the Irish team had received 1 of 3 wildcards selected to perform in the Eurogym 2024 Gala the following day. “It is such a huge honour to be selected to perform in the Gala. The Gala is the highlight of any GfA International even. When hearing Ireland will be performing in the Gala, words cannot describe the feeling. I was so proud, and truly delighted for the gymnasts and coaches. They have worked so hard to get here, their performance was on par with the best at Eurogym. I was in awe every time they performed. This is Gymnastics Irelands’ first time attending Eurogym, and Team Ireland are in the Gala. What an achievement. Congratulations to them. They are amazing ambassadors for GfA Display Gymnastics, and everyone in Gymnastics Ireland is so proud of them!” said Head of Delegation, Angela Griffin.
The team got to participate in more then just gymnastics, with workshops, social activities, parties and much more. “I love gymnastics, I love doing the performances, but I really loved how much fun we had, and making so many new friends from so many different places! I can’t describe how much fun this was. I don’t have the words, but I would come again!” said one of Siamsa’s gymnast Leah Quigley.
European Gymnastics said during the event that 16 year old Darragh Furlong from the Irish delegation was singled out by the EUROGYM young leaders as a major positive factor among all the participants. Darragh described being in Bodø this week as a “surreal feeling”.
Parents also attended this event in support of their gymnasts. “It’s so fantastic to see your child wearing the Irish kit as they arrive to such an event (Eurogym) and in such a fantastic place, they are representing Ireland in gymnastics. If this is just the start, I can’t wait for the rest of the week!” Said Cristina Pap, one of the team member’s parents.
The team came back on Friday 19th to Arklow Gymnastics Club, with a huge homecoming celebration from the teams’ parents, families and friends and other club members, with music, flags, cheering and clapping and a Garda escort.
More on the team
Team members and delegation details can be found in the team announcement by clicking here...
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