2011 National Gymnastics Day and the Handstand World Record Attempt

Each year, USA Gymnastics celebrates National Gymnastics Day to raise exposure of our sport. Since 2001, gymnastics clubs across the country have raised more than $1.4 million for Children's Miracle Network. This year, on Sept. 17, 2011, gym clubs across the country will take part in a nationwide handstand world-record attempt to celebrate National Gymnastics Day in a show of strength for the sport and to raise funds for Children's Miracle Network. The monies raised are distributed to each gym club's local Children's Miracle Network hospital, which helps children around the country who are fighting illness.

Overview
2011 is the year of the handstand, and USA Gymnastics hopes gymnastics clubs across the country will join forces to break the world record for most handstands done at one time! This is a fun and easy way to build interest in gymnastics in your community, generate excitement with your gymnasts, and be a part of breaking a record! Here's a quick snapshot of this year's plan.

Who: Gymnasts, families, friends and enthusiasts from gymnastics clubs across the country.

Why: To celebrate National Gymnastics Day and build awareness of gymnastics by attempting to break a world record. The handstand initiative is also a fun way to raise funds for Children's Miracle Network, which benefits children battling illnesses in each club's local community.

What: As part of your National Gymnastics Day celebration at your gym, organize all interested students, families and friends to perform a handstand at the designated time to break the record for the most simultaneous handstands. It also provides a fun way to raise funds for Children's Miracle Network hospitals.

Where: Gym clubs may host their activities at the gym, a local park, the local Children's Miracle Network hospital, or as part of a community event. This is a great chance to be creative and take advantage of what could be successful in your community.

When: Saturday, September 17, at 1 p.m. ET. It is important that all handstand participants have "feet up" at the same time across the country. Activities can be planned leading up to and after the attempt, but the actual handstands must be done on the dot.

How: Spread the news to your club's students and families, share the information with the local media, schools and children's groups.

Don't worry about how to organize it. Member Club Services will have sample action plans that may be used as a template. It really can be as simple as having your students show up 30 minutes before the event; practice the simultaneous inversion of the handstand a few times; and right before the attempt, have cameras ready, start the countdown and have them perform the handstands for the world record attempt.

You will need to count how many gymnasts successfully do a handstand so we can let everyone know if we broke the record. We need your club to email the number of successful handstands, the name of your club and your city and state by 2:00 p.m. ET on September 17 to worldrecordattempt@usagym.org. Also be sure to submit any photos and video clips!

For More Information: Click here!

Right now, you only need to decide to participate and spread the word. Send an email to worldrecordattempt@usagym.org, and we will send you more detailed information, including the template for the timeline and activities. Please join together and help USA Gymnastics celebrate the Year of the Handstand and National Gymnastics Day by breaking the world record!

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