Sports program Wrocław 2017

Dance Sport is all about balancing the artistry of dance with the athleticism of a physically-taxing sport. What needs to come across as an effortless succession of steps or moves to music is, in fact, an extremely intense aerobic workout. And athletic prowess must be combined with artistry in order to produce a truly captivating performance on the parquet.

Dance Sport calls for athletes to use a prescribed technique together with their rhythmic interpretation. However, technical competence in itself does not automatically constitute quality in Dance Sport. All athletes are challenged to demonstrate a perfect synthesis between proper technique, artistic skills and athleticism. Physical conditioning, hard work, rigid discipline, mental training and, above all, imagination are the prerequisites for athletes to achieve excellence in Dance Sport. The biographies of the top competitive couples tell the stories of inspired people in the unending search of perfection.

RHYTMIC GYMNASTICS

Combining the elegance of the ballet with the drama of the theatre, Rhythmic Gymnastics bursts with glamour, blurring the boundaries between sport and art. Rhythmic gymnasts strive to enchant judges and audiences with the polish of their exercises while executing enormously difficult maneuvers with one of four handheld apparatus: the Hoop, Ball, pair of Clubs and Ribbon.

Flexibility and musical interpretation are important elements in a Rhythmic exercise. However, it is the amount of risk a gymnast takes, often throwing the apparatus several meters into the air and losing sight of it while performing leaps, turns or acrobatic maneuvers before regrasping it — often in impossible-seeming catches — that sets her routines apart.

TRAMPOLINE GYMNASTICS

Trampoline gymnasts compete in one of four categories: Individual Trampoline, Synchronised Trampoline, Double-mini Trampoline and Tumbling. The best gymnasts often specialize in two of the four disciplines: Individual Trampolinists often compete pair up to compete in Synchro as well, while some top Double-mini gymnasts take part in Tumbling at the World level.

Unlike in other forms of Gymnastics, a fall from the apparatus ends a routine, giving each exercise an additional element of suspense.

Synchronised Trampoline

Of all the disciplines of Gymnastics, Trampoline gymnasts get the biggest air, thrilling audiences with their high-flying exploits. Athletes use the Trampoline to catapult themselves to heights that can surpass 10 meters, the height of a three-story building. Without technological devices strapped to the body, Trampolining is as close as human beings get to flying solo.

Double-mini Trampoline

Explosive and suspenseful, Double Mini-trampoline is the discipline for gymnasts who might enjoy being fired out of a cannon. The Double Mini-trampoline bed, one part angled, one part flat and located at the end of a long runway, is essentially two mini-trampolines joined together. It makes for a fantastic launching pad.

Gymnasts sprint down the runway toward the angled trampoline bed and use it to catapult themselves into the air, performing a number of flips and/or twists before rebounding on the trampoline and immediately re-punching to perform a second, usually even more complicated series of flips and twists. This second element finishes on the landing pad behind the Double Mini-trampoline.

Tumbling

The snare-drum rhythm of Tumbling runs — a quick, crisp string of eight tumbling elements — are performed on a special spring floor 25 meters long and two meters wide. The tumbling strip is preceded by an 20-meter runway, which gymnasts sprint down to gather momentum before hurling themselves into their tumbling sequences. At the end of the tumbling floor, softer landing mats are stacked to absorb the impact of the grand finale of the pass, usually the most difficult and spectacular element of all.

ACROBATIC GYMNASTICS

Acrobatic Gymnastics, performed on a standard 12-by-12 floor mat, is one of the few disciplines of Gymnastics in which no apparatus is used. For lifts, balances and throws — all principal components of Acro routines — the gymnasts must rely on each other. Their unique use of the human body as a launching pad, balancing post or — to cite one famous example, a jump rope — is what sets Acro apart.

Acrobatic gymnasts compete in one of five categories: Men’s Pair, Women’s Pair, Mixed Pair, Women’s Group (three women) and Men’s Group (four men).

No matter what category they compete in, gymnasts prepare three routines: A Balance routine, emphasising strength, flexibility, agility and of course balance, a Dynamic routine, where gymnasts show their mastery of pitching or being pitched into the air and executing flips or twists, followed by a controlled landing aided by one’s partner or partners, and a Combined routine, which incorporates both balance and dynamic elements.

AEROBIC GYMNASTICS

In the fast-paced world of Aerobic Gymnastics, stamina and a smile are only two of the main ingredients for success. Aerobic, born out of the fitness trend of the 1970s and 1980s, fuses mainstream Aerobic exercises — including those done with the infamous step benches — with dance steps, Gymnastics elements, lifts and strength holds. Whipped up to music with a driving beat, a good Aerobic routine takes one’s breath away.

Aerobic offers several platforms for showcasing the discipline’s variety and creativity. Gymnasts can perform singly, or in Mixed Pairs, Trios, Groups of five or in the case of Aerobic Dance and Aerobic Step, teams of eight. In all categories, continuous movement is paramount: during a routine, gymnasts are never, ever still.

In a flurry of foam and paddles, the ten canoe polo players in outfitted in face guards, helmets and body armor look like aquatic gladiators. But the hard-hitting action of kayak polo justifies every piece of protective gear they wear. From the very first whistle, the two teams of five fight over possession of the ball, no player being allowed to keep it for more than five seconds before passing it to a team mate using his or her hands or paddles, … or before scoring a goal. Tackling a ball-holding player – including his or her high-tech kayak is also permitted!

Yes, there is a “striking” similarity between volleyball and fistball: the object of both games is to place the ball in the opponents’ half of the field in such a way that it cannot be returned. The crucial difference is that in fistball the ball can be struck with either the fist or arm – but never with open hands – and the ball can bounce after each contact. The game was first mentioned in 240 A.D. by the Roman emperor Gordianus. In 1786 it was Johann Wolfgang Goethe who wrote about fistball being played between “four noblemen from Verona and four Venetians.” Today’s game has five players per side launching the ball over the ribbon – at speeds over 100 km/h – and making spectacular dives to avoid letting it bounce more than three times in their half.

The privilage of participating in The World Games 2017 competition gained 6 best nations from the IFA 2015 World Championships in Argentina: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Brazil, Argentina, Chile.

Floorball is a team sport. Each side consists of five field players and a goalkeeper whose task is to prevent the ball from making it into the team’s goal. The floorball field is a rectangle of 40 × 20m surrounded by a 50-centimeter-high board with rounded corners. A player can control the ball only with a stick whose end is shaped like a blade and they are not allowed to use their hands, shoulders, or head. Only once may a player use other parts of body (they must use the blade before they touch the ball with their body the next time). This way a player may be privileged while catching a high ball on his or her chest or receiving it with a foot from a player from their team. (However, it is forbidden to take both feet off the ground.) They are not allowed to use a leg for a shot at goal or a pass. The effective game time is 3×20 minutes. The game is played with a plastic ball, 72 millimeters in diameter and weighing not more than 23 grams. It may also have as many as 26 holes. World championships are held by the International Floorball Federation (IFF) and they take place every two years (alternating years for men and women). The European Cup is the second most prestigious club competition in the world and the teams participating in it are those from the countries whose federations are ranked 4th and below by the IFF.

A trendy variation of the traditional Olympic sport, beach handball fits in perfectly with the beach lifestyle and culture. Played on sand by teams of four, and with another four substitute players per team, the action on the small court is fast – at times even furious. Extra points are awarded for particularly spectacular goals: for those scored in-flight, through a penalty or by a goalkeeper. Games last for two halves – or sets – of ten minutes each. And there is always a winner in beach handball: a “golden goal” rule applies in a draw for the half. Should each team win one half, the game is decided by a “shoot-out” where one field player goes up against the goalie.

Korfball makes one of the most positive statements about gender equality in sport. The game bears a strong resemblance to basketball – from which it evolved – but it is based on full collaboration between the two sexes. While four men and four women team up on each side, only players of the same sex oppose each other directly on the field of play. While teamwork is essential in korfball, and individual skills are required, individual play such as dribbling is ruled out. A game is divided into two 30 minute halves. Players may score with shots taken while closing in on the “korf “(Dutch for basket) at high speed, shots from far away – with unbelievable accuracy – and penalty shots after severe fouls.

Women’s lacrosse will make its debut in the official competition programme of the World Games 2017! Two teams consisting of twelve players each take part in women’s field lacrosse. They attempt to score by shooting the ball into the goal of its opponent, while preventing the other team from securing the ball and scoring. The ball is kept in play by being carried, thrown, or batted with the crosse, rolled or kicked in any direction, subject to the restrictions laid down in the FIL Rules. The hand may not touch the ball, except by a goalkeeper who is within his goal crease.

Anticipating the multitude of trajectories that a squash ball can take is immensely challenging. Locked in combat on an enclosed glass court, the players strike the ball either directly onto the front wall or use the side or rear walls to create subtle winning shots, impossible for their opponent to return. A finely tuned sense of space is imperative just to avoid collisions on the court. To win demands power, precision, instant tactical analysis – and the stamina to bring it all together. Top-level squash is like playing chess with a racquet.

Ju-Jitsu (or Yawara) is an ancient Japanese martial art. The Ju-Jitsu International Federation currently recognizes three different types of competitions at the world level: the Duo System, the Fighting System and Ne-Waza Ju-Jitsu (also known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu). In addition excellent technique in martial art, the sport requires timing, agility, strength and endurance…and above all the Budo spirit!

Only elaborate contest rules prohibiting dangerous throws and attacks to the sensitive parts of the body make the actual one-on-one combats between two athletes, “kumite”, possible. Lightning-fast speed, a wide variety of techniques and split-second timing are the essence of this martial art. The more laid-back contests known as “kata” – Japanese for forms – are performed at the highest level of perfection. Karate is highly dynamic and makes balanced use of many muscles working in coordination. This means it provides excellent all-round exercise and develops coordination and agility.

The precise origins of Muaythai are disputed, though the martial art form is said to have developed between one to two thousand years ago in Southeast Asia. It became an effective technique practised by the soldiers of the ancient kingdoms of Siam, for the protection of their lands and borders. A weapons-bearing form of the martial art existed, as well as the unarmed form for defensive close combat. A warfare manual named “Chupasart” was written, which emphasized the martial uses of each part of the body, in harmony with the commitment of mind, body and soul.

Prior to starting their bout in the ring – the “dohyo” made of sand and clay – both sumo wrestlers, or “rikishi,” go through ancient ceremonial preparations. They clap their hands to “awaken the gods”, they toss salt into the ring for its purification, and they stamp their feet to “crush all that is evil.” Dressed only in tightly-wound silken loincloths, they then crouch and prepare for the opening charge – both hands are out in front of them, knuckles down on the ground. A bout may last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. Whatever the duration, the athletes combine power and technique to force their opponents out of the ring or force them to touch the ground with any part of the body other than the soles of their feet.

Archery (the name being taken from Latin arcus) is the art, practice, or skill of firing arrows with the use of a bow. Historically, archery has been used for hunting and combat, while in modern times, it has become more of a competitive sport and recreational activity. Field archers raise their bows, notch their arrows, and look for one long moment at the mark… But unlike their peers in straightforward target archery, they have exerted themselves physically before they get to take their first shot. Field archery – much like golf – has the athletes walking a set course and shooting at targets of different sizes from varying distances. No target is like the previous one; no two courses are alike. Three different types of bows are used in archery competitions at The World Games: the recurve, the compound and the barebow.

Newton’s principle of action and reaction certainly applies in billiard sports. But even so, players still need to work out an infinite number of possibilities in the silent analysis of the cool green baize. Pool and snooker are played on a table with six pockets into which the balls are potted – some in a certain order – to score points. In three-cushion or carom, which is played on a table without pockets, the cue ball has to make contact with two others plus at least three cushions before scoring by hitting the third ball. Billiard balls vary from one game to another in size and number. The cues are made of a hardwood, generally maple or ash – the latter particularly for snooker. Chalk is applied to the tip of the cue – for nearly every shot – to increase the friction coefficient. As a consequence, slippage between the cue tip and the struck ball is avoided.

Boules as a sport has struggled to get over its strong ties to Gaulish culture. The smoking and beret-totting players in town squares all over France hardly reflect the modern and quite athletically-demanding game that boules has become in recent years. Exceptional concentration and physical fitness are paramount to success which isn’t limited to teams from southern Europe. The national teams of Madagascar, Thailand, China and Brazil have each won medals in Pétanque, Boule Lyonnaise and Raffa at The World Games.

Countries around the northwestern Mediterranean basin – the area which saw the emergence and the early development of boules – still hold the highest concentration of boules players: 20 million enthusiasts in France and Italy alone. Well over two million players are licensed in 150 other countries on all continents, with the most significant growth currently recorded in South America and Asia.

Bowling must be one of the most popular sports in terms of participation with hundreds of millions of people around the globe bowling regularly. An estimated ten million take part in leagues, competing an average of 40 times per year. But only the best among these face off in The World Games. Seemingly tumbling the pins at will, the top athletes strike for gold with every ball they deliver. Their mastery shows in the way the ball rolls, the path it takes down the lane, and in how the pins go down behind its force or spin. Their talent is palpable, their results  inspiring, and the show electric when the best are at their best.

Powerlifters compete in a grueling triathlon of human strength. Three disciplines challenge the male and female athletes to lift loads several times their body weight in a prescribed sequence. The disciplines involve lowering themselves from a loaded and erect position to a squat and back, bringing the load from extended position down to the chest and back while lying on a bench, or raising the weights off the floor and assuming an erect position. It is the ultimate test of strength for athletes of all sizes, some of whom weigh in at just over 44 kg. Powerlifting is the definitive measure of strength.

This sport represents a concept so classic that in many languages its name is used in everyday language. Tug-of-war’s long history as the purest contest of human strength provides glorious moments. In the Olympics from Paris 1900 through Antwerp 1920, in The World Games from 1981, and in Tug of War International Federation World Championships held outdoors and indoors … When the referee commands “Pick up the rope!” – “Take the strain!” – “Pull!”, adrenalin pushes eight athletes on each side to muster every ounce of strength in their bodies.

Glider Aerobatics is a test of a glider pilot’s ability to perform spectacular aerobatic manoeuvres within the boundaries of competition. Silent and graceful, the pilots aim to impress the judges with their precision and skill as they execute a pre-planned routine in a 1,000m aerial ‘box’ in the sky. Pilots must manage the glider’s speed, energy and position all while knowing exactly which way is up. Routines typically last three minutes and will see pilots pull up to 6G during the toughest manoeuvres.

Parachuting Canopy Piloting is one of the most spectacular disciplines in air sports. Relatively new, the idea is to test a parachutist’s ability to control their canopy accurately at high speed. After jumping out of the aircraft competitors spiral down towards the performance zone, a long stretch of water known as a ‘swooping pond’. There, as they pass through the course across the swooping pond, they are scored on speed, accuracy and distance. In the Freestyle round scores are given for technical difficulty, presentation and landing. Stand by to be amazed.

Paramotoring (also known as powered paragliding) is one of the most accessible forms of flight there is. Flying a paraglider and using a back-mounted engine, pilots launch with a quick run from the ground to get into the air. In Poland pilots will compete over a series of five tasks that measure precision flying skills – from Accuracy Landing to Paramotor Football. Spectators looking for action should watch for pilots foot-dragging in the water and flying slalom. Clear prop, and start your engines!

Ultimate is a team game that combines elements of basketball, football, handball and rugby. The game involves two teams of seven members. The playing ground has dimensions of 100 x 37 meters, but the dimensions are subject to slight changes depending on the conditions and capacities of the organizers of the game. It is forbidden to run with the disc, and points are won if it is caught within an eighteen meter long “end-zone.” One thing that distinguishes ultimate is the fact that are no referees in this game and all disputes are resolved by players in accordance with the principles of fair play. Players with high technical training can toss the disc unbelievable distances. The sport’s governing body is the World Flying Disc Federation.

The world record over 50 meters freestyle swimming stands at 20.94 seconds. Shave off about 30% and you get to the record marks in men’s finswimming (50 M APNEA): 14.34! The formula applies to all other distances as well. Attaching the mono fin, a large fibre glass or plastic blade, to both feet turns conventional swimming to the turbo-charged finswimming. A snorkel, braced over the athlete’s forehead and nose, is used in addition to the mono fin for surface racing.

Lifesaving. Lifesaving is an utterly purposeful sport as it aims to encourage rescuers – pool and ocean lifeguards – to maintain, develop and improve the physical and mental skills needed to save lives in the aquatic environment. A variety of different events test the technique, fitness and motivation of athletes in situations not unlike those they encounter in their daily rescue work. Still water events are generally held in a pool. They require technical skills as well as speed. Ocean events comprise races that are often unpredictable as currents and waves play a major role and experience, tactics and endurance serve to decide the winner.

Orienteering is also called a “cerebral sport”, because navigating through open country challenges the mind as well as the body. While running, athletes must consult a map and use a compass to decide within a split second which route to take from one control point to the next. The detailed map shows the controls and indicates the types of terrain the athletes have to contend with: rough ground, dense forest, steep hills – this is cross country in the truest sense of the word! In orienteering, the clock is the judge and the fastest time wins. Electronic equipment verifies that athletes have passed all the required control points.

Speed skating is pure racing! The gold goes to those who skate the fastest. Few other sports can match the excitement of the head-to-head battles for positions between skaters hurtling themselves through the curves or the photo-finish drama that unfolds once they cross the finish line. To win, the skaters need not only sprinting abilities and stamina, they also have to quickly asses the situation and use all possible tactics to beat their opponents down the home stretch.

Inline hockey is a team sport played on an appropriate smooth surface, in which skaters use sticks to shoot a hard plastic inline hockey puck into their opponent’s net to score points.

Artistic roller skating is a sport similar to figure skating but where competitors wear roller skates instead of ice skates.

Whether it is a matter of ascending higher on the wall than the opponent – in Lead – or outright racing to the top – in Speed – sport climbing pits one athlete against another in an exciting race where the highest or fastest – man or woman – wins! This spectacular sport will again be included in The World Games, and the world’s best climbers will pit their agility and ingenuity against all the challenges of a route which “leads to the top.”

The world record over 50 meters freestyle swimming stands at 20.94 seconds. Shave off about 30% and you get to the record marks in men’s finswimming (50 M APNEA): 14.34! The formula applies to all other distances as well. Attaching the mono fin, a large fibre glass or plastic blade, to both feet turns conventional swimming to the turbo-charged finswimming. A snorkel, braced over the athlete’s forehead and nose, is used in addition to the mono fin for surface racing.

Gathering the international elite in nearly all of the sport’s different disciplines is not that common of  an occurrence, even though they share common ground: the water. In fact, it only happens once every four years, during The World Games. Equipment aside, there are some similarities between the tournament (water ski) and  barefoot competitions: both include slalom, tricks and jump events. But wakeboarding has developed in a different direction: its equipment, bindings and moves are quite similar to those used in half-pipe snowboarding. With marks given for expression and intensity, the judges are looking for big air performances here too!

American football, a sport which involves two teams of eleven players each, is one of the most popular sports in the United States. The ball for American football is a leather ellipsoid sewn on the side. Players can move the ball by kicking, carrying, throwing or passing it from hand to hand between each other but the main method of advancing it down the field is by throwing it. Points are earned in several ways, for example by moving the ball over the goal line, throwing the ball to a player behind the line – that is, in the end zone – or by kicking it through the opponent’s goal. When the time of a match runs out and the last action is finished the team with most points wins. In the event of a draw, during the regular overtime the principle of “sudden death” is applied – the equivalent of “golden goal” in football. Sometimes the game can end with a draw, if extra time does not bring a winner.

American football matches are played on a rectangular pitch with a total length of 120 yards (109.728 meters) and is 53 and 1/3 yards (48.768 meters) wide. A standard American football match consists of four 15-minute quarters with a break in the middle of the match – after the second quarter. After some actions the clock can be stopped, which can extend the match significantly, often up to more than 3 hours. Breaks are used for marketing and advertising purposes and every minute of this time is extremely valuable. In professional American football, the most important match of the year is the Super Bowl – the final championship match of the National Football League (NFL). In the US, the name of football has been reserved for this sport, which meant that football started to be called soccer there. Since November 2004, the Polish American Football Association has been operated in Poland.

An ergometer, one of the basic pieces of equipment found in almost every gym, is a key element of indoor rowing training. What if competitors give up water for a gym for a while and go for a “dry race”? Competitions on ergometers may seem monotonous but that is far from the truth with this fast-paced discipline. As a matter of fact, they are dynamic, fast and very exciting to watch! Competitors must cover around thousand meters on their machines – which requires endurance but also great speed! Every year the best Polish rowers – both seniors and juniors – come to the capitol of Lower Silesia to garner medals in the World, European and Polish Championships. One of the most decorated Polish rowers is Wrocław native Paweł Rańda who gained renown by claiming Olympic silver in Beijing. Indoor rowing competition is one of the four disciplines which have been selected for the sport program at the invitation of TWG 2017.

Kickboxing is a martial art originating in the 1970s and the name kickboxing is an umbrella name under which WAKO has created different fighting styles: Point Fighting, Light-Contact, Kick-Light and Musical Forms on Tatami and Full-Contact, K1-Rules Low-kick in a boxing ring. The origin discipline was Full-Contact inspired by boxing and karate. The sport is fast-growing since the variety of disciplines attracts all age categories and both genders. Kickboxing operates with the principal of weight classes. WAKO K1 is a discipline of kickboxing where the intention of each fighter is to beat his opponent with full power and strength. Punches and kicks must be delivered to legal targets with focus, speed and determination, creating solid contact. In this kickboxing discipline, a fighter is allowed to use all legal techniques: punches, kicks and even his or her knees. All hand techniques are allowed to the front and side of the head and body. All kicks are allowed to the front and side of the head and upper body and also it is allowed to attack with a kick to the opponent’s leg from inside and outside. Using of knee attacks is also allowed to the front and side of the head and body. Clinching is only allowed for 5 seconds in order to attack an opponent with one knee.

The fight is held in a ring and the referee is responsible for fighter safety and abiding by the rules. Meanwhile judges count legal techniques and note the points on electronic scoring system. The sport is very popular on the world stage and Poland has distinguished itself in the European world of kickboxing with several renowned champions. Thus expectations for Polish success in TWG 2017 are extremely high.

Speedway is one of the most spectacular motorsport disciplines. Riders taking part in the competition race on an oval track, usually for four laps, with one starting point for all participant. It is notable that races are always run in a counter-clockwise direction. Speedway motorcycles have no gearbox or brakes. On classic tracks, the race lasts for four laps and consists of four riders. This kind of speedway is the most popular in Poland, Sweden and the UK, and these countries have some of the most developed league matches in the world. Jerzy Szczakiel and Thomas Gollob  have both  won big on the world stage and gained notoriety for the sport in Poland.