The book Gymnastics for All: Worldwide Experiences (gymnastics for all: experiences around the world) brings together historical texts, academic analyzes and reports of experiences from athletes and organizations from five continents on the benefits and social impacts of gymnastics for all – or GPT –, a sports modality that combines elements of different sports and artistic manifestations.
Recently launched by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), the collection is edited by Marco Bortoleto, professor at the Faculty of Physical Education (FEF) at Unicamp, and Petrina Hutchinson, former FIG evaluator and current member of the OGU (Oceania Gymnastics Union ).
The work is available, free of charge, in printed and digital versions (the e-book can be downloaded here).
The publication offers theoretical support for the application of the modality in an inclusive way, in addition to presenting a global and current overview of the development of GPT, with a wide selection of images. It also features works by three former FEF undergraduate students: Fernanda Raffi Menegaldo, Michele Viviene Carbinatto and Tamiris Lima Patricio.
Currently a doctoral student at the institution, Menegaldo writes – with Bortoleto and Angela Wichmann – the article “Gymnastics for All and Human Development”, which explores the beneficial effects of the modality in terms of inclusion, diversity and improvement in capacity for cooperation, among others. Patricio – also a doctoral student at FEF – and Carbinatto, professor at the School of Physical Education and Sport (Eefe) at the University of São Paulo (USP), are responsible for the seventh chapter of the book. In it, the research duo highlights the importance of a GPT tradition around the world: sports festivals.
The arrival of the book anticipates the opening of the 52nd World Artistic Gymnastics Championship, promoted by the FIG and which will be held in Antwerp (Belgium) between September 30th and October 8th.
