Gateball Exchange Meet in Germany
GB promotion for the second time in Germany.
WGU staff and Japan GB players visit.
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1st German GB Club Wolfsburg” members & Japanese player
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Schloss Charlottenburg in Berlin |
Emblem of“1st German GB Club Wolfsburg”
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Antique Street of Celle City |
| Between Germany and Japan the first gateball exchange meet in Germany was held May on 8 - 14, where WGU had done GB promotion for the first time last autumn. |
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Local TV staff reports GB
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◇ Information of Wolfsburg City ◇
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It is located from Berlin, the capital of Germany to about 200km west.
The city of Wolfsburg has a population of 123,000 on an area of 203 k㎡ today.
The city was founded in the 20th century.
Wolfsburg is young and important city in Germany now.
There is a Volkswagens headquarters, and the city and nature coexist.
Sports are familiar to people.
There is many sports club, 100 or more in the city. And the member also exceeds 40,000 people.
Headquarters of Volkswargen
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Castle Wolfsburg |
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●Mr. Kolbe, Mayor is greatly interested in playing GB●
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Mayor makes the successful 3m touch.
People in Wolfsburg had this visit by kind arrangement and hospitality.
Especially M. Kolbe was courteous to visitors.
Last year he voluntarily participated in the practice though it was rain and made an effort to the promotion of GB when WGU visited the city for the first time.
Mayor Colbe who had invited the Japanese players in the conference room in City Hall talked,
“I was deeply touched to see that Japanese plyers ardently taught gateball in rain last year.
The GB member in the Wolfsblg city is practicing about twice a week now.
The city is examining whether to acknowledge the GB club.
I think that good result will be promising.
It is hoped that this promotion will develop into a further friendship exchange relation between Germany and Japan.”
The Mayor introduces to the result of practice of gateball (photograph).
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Mr.Kolbe strokes a ball
WGU & Wolfsburg staff |
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| Germany of the early summer ! |
With Ms. Barbel Weist, Deputy Mayor(center)
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At beer restaurant
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In front of “the Brandenburg Gate”
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In front of Castle Celle |
Painted “Wall of Berlin” |
Lakeside restaurant
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| Acting as a bridge between Germany and Japan
Ms. Teruko Balogh(left) & Mr. Manfred Huller
(right)
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Ms. Balogh and Mr. Huller served as a bridge of Gateball between Germany and Japan.
Ms. Balogh is a chairperson of Germany-Japan Association. Mr. Huller is a Personal Assistant to the Mayor.
They visited Japan last year for the events of “the Germany year 2005/2006”.
On that time WGU staff met them, and asked them how to promote GB in Germany.
Successful visit Germany this time depends on their efforts.
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| Voice of participant |
Tatsuya Kakuzaki
He runs GB tools maker, “Sunshine Sports”.
That was the second time that had visited Wolfsburg.
He has the opinion, “German senior people are accustomed to sports.
Also they have acquired to take communication since young.
Therefore they played gateball as sports.”
“As they are also interested in GB tools, I am expecting business chance of GB in Germany and Europe,” he said.
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Tatsuya Kakuzaki (front/right) |
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| Friendly exchange of Gateball was held in Wolfsburg, northeast of Germany.
About 30 members are playing GB in Wolfsburg. They belongs to the Wolfsburg sports club.
They started GB since last autumn and nowadays they are practicing once or twice in a week.
Germany of the early summer was a similar climate to Japan.
Climate in Wolfsburg was similar to early summer of Japan. Nice weather lasted for 3days.
It was a good condition for GB games.
On the first day, GB skill level of German players was checked and confirmed,
Passing gates, touching ball and so on, skills were advancing.
Preparations for games were made.
On the following day, friendly games and the strategy guidance were done.
At once German players learned tactics, the skill of stroking ball and sparking.
Nice custom that love doing sports and enjoy sports life was felt.
Exchanging meet was successful.
Gateball will be expected to spread rapidly in Germany and also Europe in the future.
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