Medau News

Hohenems – Tuesday 10th July 2007

Olive Carter reports on the 2007 Gymnaestrada in Austria, on behalf of the Medau National Display Team.

We are advised it is a lime green t-shirt day today, and how stunning we all look as we make the short train journey from our base at Lauterach to nearby Hohenems. Population 15,200 - and just about everyone seems to have turned out, despite the rain, to glimpse some of the magic of the Gymnaestrada that has danced its Stage over river at Hohenems way to their very own back yard. In fact the stage has been especially built for participants over the river that runs through the city centre. All around us there is a real sense of welcome as the local children greet us with a well-practiced cheery “Hello”

From every vantage point people are watching, and when it’s our turn to perform we can’t help but smile. The atmosphere is as delightful as the soft breeze that ruffles our hair and flutters the ribbons that we send sky high. We look out at the crowd, and the moment almost feels like a fairy-tale.

Waiting our turn

In circumstances like this, quite clearly, you can never have too many coffee and cake breaks, so when we’ve changed back into our ‘Great Britain’ kit we head off to a nearby café, still within sight of the stage, to indulge!

After dinner at another local restaurant (more wonderfully patient staff Signing shirts willing to cope with our exuberance!) we return to the town centre to find an excellent live band playing Status Quo and other lively numbers. Up on the stage once again (no - it doesn’t take long to enjoy being in the limelight) we dance well into the night with the local children, handing out souvenir Union Jack flags whilst they clamour round us to have their shirts signed!

Then tired, but still smiling, we reluctantly bid farewell to Hohenems and head home before our late train turns into a pumpkin! Another fantastic Gymnaestrada day!

Thank you Hohenems

Thank you Margaret

Thank you Team!