Elite training facility for Christchurch gymnasts
February 16, 2016
Collaboration creates elite training
facility for Christchurch gymnasts
In collaboration
with Olympia Gymnastics Sports Club a new gymnastics club
called Te Wero has opened in Wainoni, Christchurch. The new
club takes a fresh approach to gymnastics and will deliver
an elite programme along with a full range of pre-school,
school, recreational and competitive gymnastics programmes
for men, women and children.
“After a lot of hard
work we’re excited that the Te Wero Gymnastics club is now
up and running in a new facility in Wainoni,” said Melanie
Bloom, Board Member of Te Wero Gymnastics club.
The
club has been established with the support of the
well-established Olympia Gymnastics Sports Club and will
initially operate as a satellite operation. “We are
really excited about the new club, it’s a fantastic
opportunity for gymnasts to progress to an elite level and
also remain connected with Olympia,” said Kathryn Searle,
Business Manager for Olympia Gymnastics Sports
Club.
Te Wero is offering an innovative elite
gymnastics programme developed by the coaches Jozsi Ferencz
and Svetlana Sazonova.
“We are extremely fortunate
to have secured Jozsi and Svetlana as our lead coaches.
They bring international experience having achieved coaching
success at world competitions and Olympic level. They are
key to our elite programme having a proven track record and
are already delivering amazing results with our gymnasts,”
said Ms Bloom.
The initiative will also support
Christchurch’s eastern community as well as becoming a
centre of excellence for gymnastics in the wider region.
Scholarships will be created to support and encourage local
children to participate in gymnastics.
The programme
will also allow members of other gymnastics clubs in the
Canterbury region to train with Te Wero Gymnastics but still
be allowed to continue as members of their own club and
represent them at competitions.
“It is difficult for
a single club to maintain an elite programme and those that
do insist that gymnasts join their club. We don’t think
that is right and are doing things differently so as to
encourage a more inclusive elite programme in the region,”
said Ms Bloom.
Gymnastics governing body is also supportive of providing opportunities for young people to participate in gymnastics.
“GymSports NZ is
supportive of any club that wants to provide opportunities
for young people to participate in gymnastics. To offer
coaching services to elite gymnasts from the wider
Canterbury Region is a bold step in a new direction,” said
Tony Compier, Chief Executive of Gymsports New
Zealand.
“We look forward to the Te Wero / Olympia
partnership adding to an already strong and vibrant
gymnastics landscape in Canterbury,” said Mr Compier.
The name of the club was chosen to reflect the
beliefs of the club while providing an opportunity to use a
name that reflects our place, Te Wero is te reo Māori for
“The Challenge”.
ENDS -