http://europeanropeskipping.wordpress.com EUROPEAN ROPE SKIPPING ORGANIZATION

2012 EUROPEAN MASTERS ROPE SKIPPING The Portuguese Association of Rope Skipping (APRS) is pleased to serve as host country for the 2012 European Masters and Youth Tournament at the Multiusos sports complex, in Guimarães, Portugal. About Portugal Portugal is a country in the Iberian Peninsula, located in the south-western Europe. It is the most western country in Europe. The Atlantic Ocean borders the western and southern parts of Portugal and the northern and eastern parts are bordered by Spain. The Atlantic islands the Azores and Madeira are also part of Portugal. The land within the borders of today s Portuguese Republic has been continuously inhabited since prehistoric times. Some of the earliest civilizations include Lusitanian and Celtic societies. Incorporation into the Roman Republic dominions took place in the 2nd century b.c. The region was ruled and colonized by Germanic people from the 5th to the 8th century. The Muslim Moors arrived in the early 8th century and conquered the Christian Germanic Kingdoms, eventually occupying most of the Iberian Peninsula. In the early 1100s, during the Christian Reconquest, Portugal appeared as an independent Kingdom from its neighbour, the Kingdom of León and Galicia. A century later, in 1249, Portugal established almost all of the presently existing borders by conquering the territory from the Moors. During the 15th and 16th centuries, with a global empire that included possessions in Africa, Asia and South America, Portugal was one of the world s major economic, political, and cultural powers. After the Portuguese Colonial War and the Carnation Revolution coup d état in 1974, the ruling totalitarian regime was deposed in Lisbon and the country handed over its last overseas provinces in Africa. Portugal is a developed country; it has a high Human Development Index and is among the world s 20 highest rated countries in terms of living standards, although it has the lowest GDP per capita of Western European countries. It is a member of the European Union (since 1986) and of the United Nations (since 1955); as well as a founding member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), and the European Union s Euro zone. Portugal is also a Schengen state. According to the Global Peace Index, Portugal is among the top ten most peaceful countries in the world. Total area: 92,152 km² Population: 11.317 million (2010 estimate) Population Density: 114/km² GDP total: $232.7 billion, per capita: $24,021 (2009 estimate) Human Development Index (HDI): 0.909 (34th) Capital: Lisbon Currency: Euro About Guimarães Guimarães was not only the cradle of our nation but was also the cradle of Rope Skipping in Portugal. Ten years ago the Town Hall organised an exhibition, through the company Tempo Livre, including a two day workshop for teachers about this sporting activity. This training workshop was carried out by the German group Skip & Jump Europe from Kaiserslautern, during the Hockey Final Four in Multiusos Sports Hall in 2002. Guimarães is the second biggest city in the District of Braga, with a population of approximately 162.636 inhabitants, in an area of 241 km². In the context of development, mobility and political sub-regions, the city belongs to the Greater Minho Metropolitan Area, made up of 13 municipalities. Guimarães image is strongly made by its historic city centre that was recently restored and qualified as World Heritage by UNESCO in 2001. In most recent times, many voices have risen defending/proclaiming the classification of one of the city s cultural festivities known as Festas Nicolinas as Oral and Immaterial Humanity Patrimony.

The city is historically associated to the foundation of the Portuguese nationality and identity. Guimarães (amongst other towns) preceded and prepared the foundation of Portugal, being therefore known as the cradle of the Portuguese nation. In 1128 various political and military events occurred here, eventually leading to the origin of a new country. For this reason, it is written on one of the ancient city s walls Portugal was born here. This site is a historical and cultural reference for its inhabitants and visitors. Concerning sports, the city has been very active in the construction and requalification of sports and leisure spaces, seeking to improve the quality of living standard of its inhabitants as well as diversifying the city s image. The city s Sports Park, that includes the municipal swimming pools, athletics track, cycling paths and also the Multiusos Sports Hall, all within a natural and relaxed environment, are managed by the municipal company Tempo Livre. As one of the biggest cities of Minho, Guimarães takes in hundreds of young undergraduates who attend Minho University. These youngsters contribute to a dynamic and modern everyday lifestyle. Guimarães has many cultural facilities, such as Centro Cultural Vila Flor and the Multiusos Sports Complex, allowing a huge variety of shows and events, which promote the city by attracting visitors from all over the country and from the Spanish region of Galicia. It is also important to state that Portugal was ranked, in a recent research made by the Economic Worldwide Forum, as the 17th more competitive touristic destination and the 18th more selected destination. This research based its criteria in the number of places belonging to worldwide patrimony, hospitality, international fairs and sports events as factors of inestimable value for foreign visitors. Guimarães 2012 Cultural European Capital Known as the cradle of the nation, this city, which belongs to the Minho metropolitan area, is the Cultural European Capital during the year 2012. This distinction is quite peculiar for this ancient city, which balances the preservation of the historical town with the modern and youthful lifestyle. The citizens and thousands of visitors are expected during this year and they will be able to enjoy several cultural activities such as dance, music, theatrical performances, and other forms of artistic expression related to the history of the city, to the country and to Europe. Founded in the beginning of the Portuguese nationality, Guimarães can be distinguished by its preservation of the historical town and the city invites tourists from all over the world to wander throughout it s narrow and ancient alleys or to visit the most important monuments such as the Guimarães Castle or Paço dos Duques de Bragança. The city also has modern structures which optimize the touristic experience such as Penha s cableway, which offers a privileged view over the city. Guimarães is rich in traditions, from handicraft to traditional parties, in which the local population as well as visitors from other cities participate enthusiastically. The main festivity is the Gualterianas which occurs in the first weekend of August. About APRS The first references to Rope Skipping in Portugal are related to the year 2002, when a German group (Skip & Jump Europe) from Kaiserslautern led a course in Guimarães, in which some of the people who later founded the Portuguese Rope Skipping Association (APRS) participated. Since that time, those and other members of APRS have promoted this sporting activity through courses/ training for teachers (accredited courses by the Scientific and Pedagogical Council of Continuing Training) and through the creation of exhibition groups among students. In 2004, the teacher Nuno Dias, one of the APRS founders, edited together with the teacher Fernando Santos, the first Portuguese handbook dedicated to Rope Skipping, published in Portugal. They also promoted some competitions among the athletes, who increased both in number and quality. After a decade of practice dedicated to Rope Skipping, we feel we need to standardize concepts and procedures to achieve a better and quicker development of this sporting activity. The project Portuguese Rope Skipping Association (APRS) is exclusively dedicated to this sporting activity, aiming to take in athletes whether they belong to a club or not, simplifying simultaneously the affiliation and participation

conditions for the competitions. It is also intended that the APRS works as a gathering nucleus for all who have interest in this sporting activity, providing a platform to develop Rope Skipping in Portugal effectively and according to national sporting yardsticks, respecting the rules from those international organizations which are responsible for this sporting activity. for their own transport between the airport and Guimarães at their own expense (for example by public transport (tube) between the airport and Porto and train between Porto and Guimarães). Bus transportation between the hotel and the training/ competition facility during the event is included in the package. Sport Facilities Accommodation Hotel Guimarães **** http://hotel-guimaraes.com Virtual visit: http://hotel-guimaraes.com/3d/visita_virtual.html All delegations will stay at the best hotel in Guimarães. To simplify logistics, we will accommodate everyone at the same hotel. The number of people per room will be defined at a later stage, with a maximum of 3 people per room. All rooms have a private bathroom and daily cleaning. We will try to establish free internet connections so that participants can communicate with their families at home. Please note that the special reduced accommodation price for the EM2012 participants does not include the use of the hotel s indoor pool and fitness centre. If required, use of these facilities can be arranged at additional cost. Transport Bus transportation (two buses in the morning and two in the afternoon of the arrival and departure days) between Oporto International Airport and Guimarães will be provided as part of the package, but scheduled to fit as best as possible to the arrival and departure schedules from each delegation as stated in the registration form. Should the arrival/departure schedules of a delegation or part of a delegation change after registration, these people will then be responsible Name: Guimarães Multiusos Sport Hall Place/City: Guimarães Director: Eng.º Anibal Rocha Tel. Contact: +351 253 520 300 Fax. Contact: +351 253 520 309 E-mail: multiusos@tempolivre.pt Sport area: 3887 square metres (half for competition Length: 63 m Width: 61 m area and half for warming up) Distance: Floor-roof 15 metres Lighting specifications Level II: 2000 Lux Floor: Wood Floor in the sport area Seating area: 1700 seats Locker rooms: 6 (teams) + 2 referees Meeting Room : 48 seats Medical Room: 35 square metres Press facilities: Tribune with 55 seats VIP Facilities: VIP box for 15 persons Parking lot: 1000 parking places Catering Balanced and healthy hot meals will be served in the sports hall on Friday and Saturday evenings and at lunch time on the Saturday. If required vegetarian menus or other special meals can also be provided. These will be limited to those people who specify this requirement on the registration form. Breakfast will be served at the hotel.

About the event The event will be for individual athletes and will include the European Masters Competition (15+) and for the first time, a 12-14 Youth Tournament. ERSO will be responsible for running the competition according to the current ERSO rule book (based on the FISAC - IRSF rule book with slight modifications). Skippers competing in the Youth Tournament (must be born in 1998; 1999 or 2000). Skippers competing in the European Masters must be born in 1997 or before. If possible (depending on sufficient registrations) it is intended to have independent Male and Female categories in the Masters and the Youth Tournament. EuroMasters Schedule Day 1 (2nd November) Arrival and accommodation allocation Practice time Day 2 (3rd November) Opening Ceremony Competition Medal Ceremony Day 3 (4th November) Departure Event Organizers Associação Portuguesa de Rope Skipping Rua José Loureiro Duarte nº2 Edifício da Junta de Freguesia de Esporões Phone: 00351 917 206 019 email: em2012@erso.info website: www.aprs.pt Additional day Option A: 90 - accommodation + breakfast + two (2) meals (+ offer of cultural visit*) Option B: 60 - accommodation + breakfast (+ offer of cultural visit*) Offer of a cultural visit to Guimarães town, including visit to the museum, the castle, Paço dos Duques... for free Payment Information Deposit of 100 /per person due by August 1, 2012 Final payment and registration due by September 15, 2012 To pay by wire transfer: Federação Portuguesa de Rope Skipping Bank: Millennium bcp BIC / Swift Code: BCOMPTPL Account: 45418882980 NIB: 0033-0000-45418882980-05 IBAN: PT50-0033-0000-45418882980-05 Cancellation Policy Cancel before August 1, 2012 100% refund Cancel before September 1, 2012 50% refund Cancel before October 1, 2012 25% refund NO REFUNDS will be given after October 1, 2012 Package informations and pricing Package (2 nights) - 225 per person Masters and 12-14 Youth Tournament Arrival: November 2nd, 2012 Departure: November 4th, 2012 The package includes: Transport: Oporto internacional aeroport - Guimarães / Guimarães - Oporto international aeroport Lodging Meals: Friday dinner; Saturday lunch; Saturday dinner Saturday and Sunday Breakfast ERSO registration T-shirt Transportation information Oporto international airport (OPO) Insurance Policy Coaches/Heads of Delegation will be fully responsible for their teams during the entire stay in Portugal. APRS will not provide insurance for competitors and each is responsible for his/her own insurance. We will have on-site staff and trainers for any first aid needs.

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