Words of Welcome
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Rainer Brechtken
President of the German Gymnastics Federation
Upon being selected, in early 2009, to organize the 26th European Championships of Rhythmic Gymnastics in 2010, the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB) immediately recognized that the City of Bremen and the sports club Bremen 1860 would be ideally suited to host this top event.
After all, Bremen is one of the strongholds of rhythmic gymnastics in Germany, ranking high among the other leaders in this discipline, Fellbach/Schmiden, Bochum/Wattenscheid and Halle/Saale. Another advantage is that Bremen has successfully hosted the 2000 European Championships of Men’s Gymnastics.
After missing the qualifications for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the German Gymnastics Federation intends to be represented in rhythmic gymnastics at the London Olympics 2012. We seem to have a realistic chance to achieve world-class standard in the group event, as the six gymnasts in the German national team are displaying a high standard of performance and great potential in this event.
This is the reason why the Executive Committee of the DTB has decided to concentrate its efforts on the group rather than on the individual event. The European Championships in Bremen will offer our group team a perfect opportunity to position themselves among their competitors after the 2009 World Championships in Japan and before the next Olympic qualification is pending at the 2011 World Championships.
The individual events at the 2010 European Championships in Bremen also promise top-level performances, with the world’s best gymnasts competing because they originate from Europe, notably from nations such as Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Bulgaria. They will use the competition as a sophisticated platform to showcase their potential and present their beautiful sport to the world.
We expect about 200 gymnasts from over 20 nations to perform in the Bremen Arena from 13th to 18th of April 2010. The European juniors will participate concurrently in the individual championship events together with the groups to qualify for the first Junior Olympics in Singapore next summer.
Good luck and much success to all the gymnasts. Last but not least, I hope that the spectators will be treated to exciting European Championships which are enjoyable to watch.
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Christian Weber
President of the State Parliament of Bremen
President of the Bremen Gymnastics Federation
I feel deeply committed to the Bremen Gymnastics Federation (BTV), and have felt even so before my presidency. Rhythmic gymnastics has always held a special place in my heart. And I’m not alone with this affinity, as it is one of the most popular spectator sports. All eyes are on the gymnast, whose seemingly effortless performance appears to defy gravity whilst gracefully striving for perfection. Rhythmic gymnastics combines aesthetic movement and music with peak performance in sport. The performance requires great skill and concentrated effort from the competitors and brings unadulterated enjoyment to the spectators.
I am delighted that Bremen will host the 2010 European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships and that supporters from many nations will come together as our guests. Our city and the Bremen Gymnastics Federation with its affiliated clubs truly deserve the honour of hosting this major event. Bremen has repeatedly been recognized as a Federal Training Centre of Rhythmic Gymnastics – an impressive endorsement for the special qualifications of this location and of its continued creative and astute efforts.
The home of Germany’s renowned talent factory welcomes Europe’s top rhythmic gymnasts to the 2010 competition. We look forward to the event with great anticipation.
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Peter Scheuer
President of Bremen 1860
Dear friends of rhythmic gymnastics,
our sports club, Bremen 1860, has been passionately involved in this sport for many years. Rhythmic gymnastics has, over time, progressed into a flagship of our club’s athletic prowess. Thanks to the exemplary co-operation of Bremen 1860 and the Federal Training Centre, based in Bremen, we have been able to continuously improve the performance of our elite gymnasts as well as that of our broader base.
We are overjoyed to have succeeded in staging the prestigious European Championships in Bremen, which was facilitated through the tireless support of the President of the Bremen Gymnastics Federation, Christian Weber; the Executive Director of the official Bremen Marketing Company, Dr. Sondergeld, and the Economic Counselor with the Bremen Senate, Dr. Heseler. A heartfelt thank-you also goes to the representatives of the German Gymnastics Federation and the UEG, in place of many others I want to name Mr. Hans-Peter Wullenweber and Mr. Manfred Kucht.
We are grateful and proud of being allowed to host these European Championships! Firstly the city of Bremen is known to be one of the strongholds of rhythmic gymnastics in Germany and secondly, Bremen 1860 is one of the leading clubs in rhythmic gymnastics for many years. Furthermore this event serves as the athletic highlight in the festivities to celebrate “150 years of Bremen 1860“.
I would also like to thank the numerous individuals who have worked hard behind the scenes at Bremen 1860 and the Federal Training Centre. I am certain that the experienced and dedicated team around Horst Neumann and Michael Wiatrek will succeed in organizing a spectacular event.
I wish all athletes and their delegations a pleasant and successful stay in Bremen. May the spectators in the Bremen Arena witness exciting and entertaining competitions. Let us all enjoy the days to come.
