Are you welcome or are men not allowed? Rhythmic gymnastics school in Spain

It is in Russia that rhythmic gymnastics stars become State Duma deputies, but in other countries this sport is far from being so favored and popular. Yesterday the final of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup started in Kazan, in which 180 athletes from 32 countries take part. As it turned out, the coaches of many national teams are emigrants from the former USSR, where rhythmic gymnastics was cultivated. The correspondent of “Evening Kazan” asked them why foreign women could not give Russian “artists” worthy competition.

Margarita Mamzina, coach at the sports club in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA:

It’s not surprising, in Russia the development of rhythmic gymnastics began almost immediately after the revolution. And in the USA they learned about this sport only in the 70s, when the first coaches from the Soviet Union arrived. Today, rhythmic gymnastics in Russia is the number one sport for girls. In the USA, artistic gymnastics is more popular.

The second factor is that all sports in America are private. Parents pay a lot of money for their children to play any sport. Classes at the club are expensive, $50 per session per week. Russia has a developed system of youth sports schools and sports boarding schools. This is not the case in the USA. Everything is at the expense of the parents, even at the national team level. At the same time, the rhythmic gymnastics team does not have the same financial support as, for example, the basketball or artistic gymnastics team. Because they already have medals, they are shown on TV. And this is important for attracting the attention of the population. There is absolutely no rhythmic gymnastics on American television. Therefore, many simply do not know what kind of sport this is, although those who have seen it really like it.

In addition, in America, parents want their child to develop diversified, offer him several different “activities,” and children play sports for interest, not for results. All the girls study in regular schools, and the older they are, the more lessons they have, they are preparing to go to college, realizing that you can’t build a life on sports. So we are losing a huge number of 16-17 year old gymnasts.

Elena Yakubovskaya, coach (left Belarus for Slovenia 20 years ago):

We don’t have a national team as such, just as we don’t have a gymnastics center. I'm here because my ward is number one in Slovenia. Of course, in our country rhythmic gymnastics is not as developed as in vast Russia, where there are great opportunities for selection and ideal conditions have been created. Although they bring a lot of children, as soon as it comes to serious stress, they cannot stand it. Why, if you can dance twice a week? So it's more of a hobby for them.

If girls' grades decline at school, their parents do not allow them to study. After all, they do not expect to receive anything, but only invest their own funds - 50 - 60 euros per month for training with an average salary in the country of 800 euros. And also tournaments, swimsuits... Everyone understands that Slovenia will never have a champion in rhythmic gymnastics. If my girl gets to the Olympics, it will be great! She came to Kazan at her own expense; the federation only pays for trips to the World and European Championships.

We take alpine skiing seriously, but there we are talking about independent adults, good prize money, etc.

Anna Baranava, with senior coach of the Spanish national team (also emigrated from Belarus):

In Russia, a system of training female athletes has been developed since childhood, and from childhood they are trained professionally, from the very beginning they do everything correctly: body positioning, legs... This is what other countries lack. Not everyone thinks that all efforts and resources should be devoted to the struggle for sporting achievements. There are more important things. For Spain, what is more important is how Spain lives, that is, the general standard of living. And when the economic situation in the country worsened in 2008, sports were the first to suffer. We work within the framework determined by the state.

We have a very modest material base, although our sport is very popular in Spain. There are only two gymnastic mats in the country. Moreover, in every small town there is a hall that is shared between representatives of different sports. The fee is small, but classes are held less frequently and at a low level. Therefore, the Spanish championships among club students are not exactly rhythmic gymnastics, but rather a demonstration of basic elements... Children who join my national team are completely unprepared, we start training from scratch.

One more nuance: in Spain there is a law according to which I can invite a child to my gymnastics center only if he is over 15 years old. And parents are reluctant to let their children go. There is a cult of family there, and I can’t do anything if what’s important to parents is not the medal, but that the child be close.

Svetlana Zhukova, senior coach of the Canadian national team (left Russia 21 years ago):

In Canada, as you know, the main sport is hockey, and rhythmic gymnastics exists at the level of private business. My compatriots come, find premises, open clubs. We have a federation that unites rhythmic and artistic gymnastics, trampolining and acrobatics. But the funding for my species is very small. We pay for everything ourselves: training, swimsuits, massage therapists, choreographers... It was only last year that our trip to the World Championships was financed for the first time. As the senior coach of the national team, I do not receive a salary; I took this post because the girls from my club won a lot and got to the Olympics in London. After we qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games for the first time in history, they... thanked me.

At the end of last year, sports fans were alarmed by the news: men were officially allowed to compete in synchronized swimming! The International Swimming Federation has introduced a new discipline - mixed pairs. The first place to see duets of women and men in the water will be Kazan, where the World Aquatics Championships will be held in August.

Now at least put rhythmic gymnastics in the Red Book - this sport remains the only one exclusively for women. I hasten to note: it remained so Bye And officially. In fact, men have been involved in rhythmic gymnastics for a long time and are desperately seeking recognition. The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) is still on the defensive and does not approve the men's direction. How long will it last?

Everyone has heard about guys in leggings. Many people know that the idea of ​​men's rhythmic gymnastics is supported by Irina Viner herself. However, for most, just thinking about the boys on the gymnastics mat seems to light up a red light in their head, signaling: “Stop! No! This is a perversion! Please remain calm - there will be no propaganda of men's rhythmic gymnastics. But I am sure: before you deny anything, you need to find out more about it.

Did you know that, despite its status as an unrecognized sport, men's rhythmic gymnastics is so cool that it exists in two versions? They are fighting for the title of pioneer in the development of this direction. Spain and Japan. But their versions of men's gymnastics are fundamentally different.

The Spanish version is what we usually picture when we hear about men's rhythmic gymnastics: guys in tight suits with sequins and holding a ribbon. Here no one has arranged anything specifically for boys; here boys adapt to the rules written for girls. The set of objects is the same - hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon - the evaluation criteria are the same.

Since 2005, boys have been allowed to participate together with girls at the Spanish national championships. This was possible because there was no regulation prohibiting such competitions. According to the regulations, each autonomous community had the right to present 10 participants: 8 girls gymnasts + 2 open categories, which included boys or gymnasts from other countries. That is, discrimination occurred even then - both places in the open category could be taken by foreign girl gymnasts. When, in 2009, the International Gymnastics Federation officially declared that rhythmic gymnastics is a women’s sport, where there are no rules for the participation of men, Spanish gymnasts began to fight for equality and restoration of justice. The result was the decision of the Spanish Gymnastics Federation to hold the first national men's rhythmic gymnastics championship.

At international competitions (not under the auspices of the FIG), gymnasts compete in the same category as girls. For example, at a tournament in Paris in 2011, Spanish gymnast Ruben Orihuela beat girls from Ukraine, Bulgaria, Russia...

Ruben Orihuela ball exercise

Ruben Orihuela, exercise with tape

Ruben Orihuela deserves special attention. He is the first champion of his country, the pride and “father” of Spanish men's rhythmic gymnastics. It was on his initiative and with his active participation that in 2009 the gymnasts achieved the holding of the first championship among men. Journalists nicknamed him the Spanish Billy Elliot, drawing parallels with the hero of the film of the same name, who exchanged boxing for ballet and, overcoming a misunderstanding of family and society, became an outstanding dancer. “Guys do football, boxing, wrestling, but not damn ballet.”, - that’s what Billy’s father said in the film. If you replace “ballet” with “gymnastics,” wouldn’t you also want to say this phrase to gymnasts?

This whole story suggests that Spanish men's rhythmic gymnastics is romanticized. Ruben Orihuela is a kind of romantic hero, opposing a canned, complex society with stereotypical thinking. The more the International Gymnastics Federation ignores the development of the male movement, the more majestic the mission of boys swimming against the tide and fighting for their rights becomes.

Calm! Those who were afraid that the Spanish version of men's gymnastics would eventually be included in the Olympic program can exhale. Because Irina Viner supports a completely different direction. Japanese athletes have every chance of getting approval from the International Gymnastics Federation. To get rid of prejudice, Japanese men's gymnastics is called not rhythmic, but rhythmic, although in English the name sounds the same - rhythmic gymnastics.

Unlike Spanish, Japanese gymnastics bears little resemblance to the rhythmic gymnastics we are used to. Here the athletes compete according to their own special rules, they are dressed not in leggings, but in trousers, and in general, judging by their crazy performances, girls have no place here.

Japanese rhythmic gymnastics is presented in two disciplines - group and individual. Groups consist of six people and perform exercises without objects. Individual gymnasts perform with apparatus, but not the same as in rhythmic gymnastics. These are rings, a cane, clubs (heavier and larger than the girls') and a jump rope. In men's rhythmic gymnastics, the emphasis is on speed, strength, and coordination. In the individual program, all this looks like “courageous”, “severe” rhythmic gymnastics with elements of acrobatics - without a hint of elegance, grace, without beautiful rolls of the apparatus and elements for flexibility, but with a demonstration of incredible body control. Performances in the group program make a strong impression - the gymnasts do things that take your breath away and make you scared for their health. For example, for 30 seconds athletes carefully line up in a pyramid, and then within a second they fall from it onto the mat at an angle of 90 degrees.

Japan, group exercise

Japan, ring exercise

Japanese rhythmic gymnastics was first demonstrated at the World Cup in 1986 as a demonstration performance. Over time, this sport became more and more popular in Japan and spread to other countries. In 2005, Irina Viner invited a Japanese coach to develop men's rhythmic gymnastics in Russia. Under his leadership I prepared for the World Cup Alexander Buklov– the first Russian world champion in men's rhythmic gymnastics.

Alexander Buklov with a demonstration performance at the Moscow Grand Prix in rhythmic gymnastics

Currently, men's rhythmic gymnastics is practiced by athletes in eight countries - Japan, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Russia, the USA, Korea and Mexico. Competitions, including world championships, are still not held under the auspices of the International Gymnastics Federation. But Irina Viner, in a recent interview, expressed hope that men’s rhythmic gymnastics might be recognized in the new Olympic cycle. And at the show performance dedicated to the 80th anniversary of rhythmic gymnastics, Japanese samurai gymnasts performed along with famous athletes from all over the world.

Returning to synchronized swimming - what if the experiment of mixed pairs is successful, and the FIG, discarding the existing options for men's rhythmic gymnastics, decides to introduce “artistic” duets? In pairs figure skating, what feelings do athletes show on the ice! Maybe rhythmic gymnastics also lacks a love story?

Spanish gymnasts Ruben Orihuela and Almudena Cid with a demonstration performance

School of rhythmic gymnastics:

  • large hall for classes;
  • professional equipment – ​​Gymnova;
  • all necessary tools: clubs, ribbons, balls, rolling pins, etc.;
  • lighting;
  • the ability to use musical accompaniment.

Football school:

  • standard football field;
  • artificial turf covering;
  • separate school for goalkeepers;
  • the largest school in Spain for children from 4 to 15 years old.

Badminton School:

  • hall with professional coverage;
  • badminton equipment;
  • closed area.

Additional sports infrastructure:

  • basketball schools; volleyball; closed premises with platforms;
  • 2 outdoor swimming pools; large 25 meters with 6 tracks and small;
  • taekwondo and aikido school;
  • Gym.

Additional leisure infrastructure:

Tivoli World Amusement Park:

  • water and land attractions;
  • entrance ticket to most attractions;
  • location within the city;
  • includes many attractions specifically for children under 16 years old.

Paloma Park (botanical garden):

  • rich flora and fauna;
  • playground;
  • several cafes;
  • picnic areas;
  • located in the center of the city.

Hotel location

Description and information

Costa del Sol is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain. Andalusia, excellent sea, comfortable climate and colorful small towns. Benalmadena is just one of these real Spanish, Catalan towns that is developing with the times. But during traditional national holidays, city residents create a medieval ambiance by dressing in national costumes

The city has the opportunity to have a good rest and spend time in the Tivoli amusement park - an amusement park, water, air and la Paloma park - a botanical garden occupying 200.00 m² in the very center of the city. There are many plants specific to the area, as well as fauna. Employees joke that there are rabbits hiding behind almost every bush.

The school of rhythmic gymnastics in Benalmadena is famous in Spain. It is part of the large state sports complex Municipal Sports of Benalmadena.

  • Hotel Bali is just a 10-minute drive from Puerto Marina Harbour.
  • Malaga Shopping Center is 30 minutes by bus.
  • Malaga Airport 30 minutes;
  • 250 meters to the beach;
  • 10 minutes by bus to the sports complex;
  • Apartment la Fonda is just 700 meters from the sports complex.

Accommodation Option 1

Offers 2 accommodation options. Hotel BALI is a three-star hotel with well-equipped rooms. The room has air conditioning and satellite TV. Safes can be rented. There is a zone with free Wi-Fi. Wired internet is available at an additional cost. The hotel has its own covered parking.

Meals are served three times a day, in the hotel restaurant, the choice of dishes is a buffet. The restaurant menu includes both European and national Spanish dishes.

Accommodation Option 2

Apartamentos La Fonda are equipped with air conditioning, satellite TV, hairdryer. The kitchen has 2 electric burners, oven, microwave, coffee machine, toaster, cutlery. Most rooms have a terrace with a balcony.

Meals are served three times a day, in one of the nearby restaurants.

Offer for sports groups

Price

  • Single room in hotel - from 81 euro/person
  • Double room in hotel - from 60 euros/person
  • Triple room in hotel - from 57 euros/person

Included in the price:

  • accommodation in a hotel, apartment;
  • meals (full board); only for hotel
  • drinking regime;
  • room cleaning 2 times a week;
  • change of bed linen once a week
  • training at the Benalmadena Sports Center; 3 hours every day
  • transfer from the hotel to the hall and back;
  • free Internet;
  • daily transfer from the hotel to the sports center and back; 2 times a day
  • group curator constant support

Additional services

  • organization of excursions;
  • all activities that the team wishes

Rhythmic gymnastics today is not just a sport. This is a tandem of art and sports that harmonize with each other. Rhythmic gymnastics is not limited to strength, endurance and agility. Athletes face a rather difficult task: they must feel the rhythm and select expressive movements for it. In other words: gymnasts must cultivate aesthetic spirituality.

Complex combinations consisting of gymnastic, acrobatic, dance, smooth, flexible, plastic exercises with objects (jump rope, hoop, ribbon, ball), accompanied by beautiful music - This is what Rhythmic Gymnastics is. Children's rhythmic gymnastics promotes harmonious physiological development, helps to develop aesthetically, and shapes taste


Thanks to the relationship between gymnastics and ballet, coordination and expressiveness of each movement is developed (including plasticity, sense of rhythm, grace, and even artistry.) The basis of any dance is classical choreography, which provides basic and fundamental lessons. (stretching, flexibility, strength training) Such choreography is also relevant in everyday life - good posture, smooth gait... Acrobatics - an integral basic part of any type of dance or sport - will help you become more stable and better navigate in space, improve your self-insurance skills.


execution



As already written, rhythmic gymnastics requires the presence of apparatus: (rope, hoop, ribbon, ball), but sometimes gymnasts perform without them. But at world-class competitions, the presence of apparatus is mandatory. Competition winners are determined in individual types of exercises and in group exercises


Previously, female athletes performed under the piano or some other instrument. Now orchestral phonograms are used. The choice of music is a personal matter for the gymnast and the coach. No more than 1.5 is allocated for each exercise. minutes. Gymnastic mat. On which exercises are shown -13x13 meters. Classical all-around is 4 exercises (Olympic discipline) Gymnasts. Competitors in the individual championship compete for a set of awards in individual types of exercises. (except for the Olympic Games).



Rhythmic gymnastics is a fairly young sport. It appeared thanks to the masters of the ballet of the great Mariinsky Theater. Rhythmic gymnastics quickly gained worldwide recognition and became a very popular sport.



In 1913, a school of artistic movement began at the Leningrad Institute of Physical Culture named after P. F. Lesgaft. The first teachers of this school are world-famous Rosa Varshavskaya, Elena Gorlova, Anastasia Nevinskaya, Alexandra Semenova-Naypak.


In April 1941, students, graduates and teachers of the school held the first Leningrad championship in rhythmic gymnastics. And in 1948, the first USSR championship in rhythmic gymnastics took place.






Gymnastics joined the Olympic sports in 1980. At different times, Olympic champions were: Marina Lobach (USSR), Yana Batyrshina, Ekaterina Serebryanskaya, Yulia Barsukova, Alina Kabaeva, Irina Chashchina.

At the beginning of the emergence of rhythmic gymnastics on the world stage, the USSR occupied a leading position. And then Bulgaria (NRB) Gymnasts from these 2 countries competed for a long time (period from 1960 to 1991)

During the competition period, gymnasts from these two countries. Gymnasts from other countries only claimed silver. And more often for bronze medals. After the collapse of the USSR, the picture changed (many independent states appeared) 90s XX century - this is the heyday of Ukrainian rhythmic gymnastics and the collapse of the Bulgarian and Russian schools




Russian rhythmic gymnastics has risen significantly since the beginning XXI century. As of 2011, almost unshared leadership belongs to Russian gymnasts. Gymnasts from Ukraine and Belarus demonstrate high results. Azerbaijan

Rhythmic gymnastics is very popular in Spain, Canada, Italy, Japan, France, Israel... Some athletes - representatives of these countries sometimes manage to push aside the recognized leaders



There is not a single city or large village in Russia where rhythmic gymnastics is not practiced. Therefore, at the Summer Olympic Games, most of the champions are Russians



Features of rhythmic gymnastics

Training for gymnasts of junior groups lasts several hours a day, for senior groups - up to 14 hours a day. At the age of 14-16, many gymnasts switch to sports ballet. Only a few continue their careers until they are 20-22 years old



Young woman. Anyone who practices rhythmic gymnastics can easily master any type of dance.

Rhythmic gymnastics is an extraordinary combination of harmony of soul and body.


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