Zone 6 Team Managers Report

 

Competition events:

 

Disciplines:

Artistic Gymnastics

Rhythmic Gymnastics

Trampoline Gymnastics

Sports Aerobics

 

Namibian Delegation:

 

16 Coaches and Judges and 33 Gymnasts

 

We had a lot of problems with the organizing of this competition/trip.  Because it was the only time

that suited Zimbabwe, we had to do a lot of convincing to the parents to send the gymnasts to

Zimbabwe while our Namibian school holidays already started.  It was very expensive and some

of the gymnasts just returned back from the African Championships in Cape Town.  Thanks to

South African Airways who made it possible for very low air fairs, we were on our way to Zimbabwe.

 

Some of the coastal gymnasts and officials left their homes at 7.00 the morning of the 7th of December

and we only arrived in Harare 21.00.  It was a very long day.

 

We stayed in the most beautiful old girls school named, Arundel School in Harare.  The staff

 that stayed behind to see to us was very friendly and helpful.  Our meals consist of 3 cooked

meals per day and believe me we struggle to eat it all.  The Zimbabwe Gymnastic Federation

did a wonderful job to let us feel at home and see to all our needs and that is why the next

Zone VI competition will be hosted again by Zimbabwe.

 

      

Swimming pool at Arundel       Very big Avocado tree                        Narraville school bus in the

                                                                                                     background next to a tree

                                                                                                      in the middle of the road

 

Countries attending:

 

South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe (Absent) Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique and Angola

 

Competition:

 

The Sports Aerobics competition was first up, and went very well.  Unfortunately Lesotho did not send

gymnasts to participate so it was only Namibia and South Africa.

 

Look at all the medals and the happy faces!!

 

The woman’s and men’s artistic gymnastics was on the Sunday and Monday, when there was a very

big thunder storm with a lot of rain.  It was very nerve wrecking for the gymnasts to perform their routine

on the apparatus with the rain and thunder so close to them.  The roof also leaked, so some

of the Judges had to do the rain dance not to get wet.  For the artistic gymnasts these 2 days of

competition was very long and tiring, because the boys have 6 apparatus and the girls only 4 so

the girls had to wait for the boys to finish before they could move to the next apparatus.

 

The Rhythmic and Trampoline gymnastics competition was on the Tuesday.  The rhythmic girls

did well to clench the gold team medal before South Africa and did us all proud.  The trampoline

gymnasts also did well.  It was the first time that Zimbabwe entered trampoline gymnasts and

with the help of South Africa they produced a very nice competition.  South Africa and Namibia

had to adjust our rules to accommodate them and all went very well.  Their gymnasts worked

very hard and will be a force to recon with in future.

 

      

2 Namibian Judges                                   The rain storm

 

                 

Jnr Boys Trampoline team medal                Jnr girls Trampoline team medal

 

 

We were very fortunate and proud to be visited by the Ambassador of Namibia, sitting here with

2 of the gymnasts.

 

       

Tired gymnasts at the Airport                    Got up at 4.15, left for Airport at 5.00

                                                                  Spend 6 hours at OR Thumbo Airport in

                                                                  JHB only to arrive in WHK at 16.30

 

Closure:

 

Zimbabwe worked very hard to put all of this together and I think everyone of us who went

there were very surprised.  For 3 months they worked to get a hall ready, they closed a

factory for 1 week and took all of the 70 workers and renovate the hall, install proper toilet,

shower and water facilities.  They repainted the floors so that the hall looked brand new to us. 

We were very proud of what the achieved and are looking forward to go there again in

 2007 for the next Zone VI competition.  Hopefully countries like Botswana, Lesotho and

others will join us to support Zimbabwe.

 

        

 

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                                                                                                         THE END