NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTS HOSTS FIRST STARS GYMNASTICS
- Published in Soualiga News
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Photo's contributed.
SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - Sunday December 9th, NIA (National Institute of Arts) hosted its first STARS gymnastics. An event designed to motivate and inspire its gymnasts to work hard and diligent to attain their athletic goals.
48 gymnasts from 4 different levels participated in this event. The beginners and competition gymnasts presented their acquired skills in the morning, while the advanced and pre-competition gymnasts displayed their skills in the afternoon.
For the past 3 months the gymnasts have been working hard during their practices to master basic skills, which will be used to build upon when learning more advanced skills.
The gymnasts got the chance to show their, agility, flexibility and strength. The skills performed ranged from bridges and forward roles, to handstands, skips and backhand springs.
For every successful skill presented the gymnasts were able to receive a STAR. Depending on their performance of the skill and level of advancement, the gymnast received a Bronze, Silver or Gold STAR.
It was an eventful day, in which the gymnasts were able to show their parents and supporters their new acquired skills, against a backdrop of Christmas music.
Furthermore, the gymnasts were proud to show off their skills on their new uneven bars. Last year’s In-house competition was in the light of raising money to purchase new uneven bars.
When in the Netherlands “Sports for Children Foundation”, chairman Mr. Jan-Willem Geurts, read the press release of the fundraising event he immediately contacted NIA Director Arlene Halley to express his approval of how the previous donated equipment delivered by the SXM Rebuild Team was being utilized by NIA’s youth, he immediately offered the Institute a donation of uneven bars.
With the collected donations of the public, Domino’s Pizza and CC1, NIA was able to pay for the shipping costs of the donated uneven bars which arrived just in time for the Stars competition.
NIA wants to thank everyone who came out last year June to support this cause, those who have donated and especially Sports for Children Foundation in the Netherlands. Furthermore, NIA wants to congratulate the gymnasts on their excellent performances and their great sportsmanship.
