Donegal’s Gymnastic Display Team, Finesse along with 21 gymnasts from Dublin will have the honour of representing Ireland at this year’s international Festival Del Sole, Italy.
The Festival Del Sole is the biggest international gymnastics for all (G.F.A.) event in the Mediterranean area.
For a whole week, the city of Riccione is turned into a huge gymnastic stage where more than 4,000 gymnasts from around the world will perform at their best.
The Festival Del Sole was established in Riccione in 1989. It was the first of its kind in Italy: never before, have a Mediterranean country tried to organise an international event of general gymnastics. The Festival proved to be a great success right from its first edition, attracting 58 teams from 11 different European countries. Since then the festival has doubled in size.
In 2010 the Festival Del Sole celebrated its tenth edition: Riccione was literally invaded by more than 3,400 gymnasts from 19 countries around the world who performed in front of 50,000 spectators. It was a very special edition that culminated with the great closing ceremony in conjunction with Riccione’s very own Notte Rosa. The last edition took place on July 2012. They introduced a fourth sports Arena in order to allow more gymnasts to perform—peaking at 4,300 participants and over 20 countries.
“To be a part of the Irish team is a huge achievement for these young Donegal gymnasts,” said Tony King.
“Finesse was formed just over two years ago and the team has since gone from strength to strength after receiving back to back medals at the London Gymnastics Festival and also having the honour of closing last year’s Gymfusion at the millennium forum Derry as part of their city of culture celebrations.
“Everyone involved within the club deserves some credit; there is a huge amount of commitment involved, from the parents doing fundraising to the gymnasts spending countless hours training and the coaches for all the hard work and effort that they have put into getting this team to where they are today and making opportunities such as this one possible.”
Finesse Gymnastics Display Team
Amber Beecroft, Ciara Beecroft, Rachel Canning, Ailbhe Gallagher, Molly Gallagher,
Adele King , Ellie King , Fiona Lafferty, Orla Lonergan , Orla McCarron, Aisling Nulty,
Cara Nulty , Molly Nulty, Abi O’Connor, Aoife O’Connor, Tori O’Connor.
Coach
Meganne Herron
Choreographer
Linda Bennett
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