Gymnastics Canada Takes To The Steet At Toronto Waterfront Marathon

TORONTO , Sept. 21 /CNW/ - Gymnastics Canada is taking to the streets this Sunday at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, cheering on its team of runners in the Neighborhood Challenge, and staging gymnastics demonstrations with the help of its partner clubs in Ontario and some of Canada's best known gymnastics athletes.

Olympic medal winners Jason Burnett and Karen Cockburn join a supporting cast that also includes Emily Boycott, a special Olympics gold medalist and Elfi Schlegel, one of Canada's best-ever female gymnasts from the late 1970s and early 80s.

"We're putting our hearts into this" says Schlegel, an Olympic broadcaster for NBC since 1992, who has turned her passion for gymnastics into her own business, the Schlegel Gymnastics Centre in Oakville.

The free demonstrations and opportunity to meet Canada's past and current gymnastics champions will take place at the corner of Bay and Wellington on Sunday, September 27th, 2009 from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm .

Gymnastics Canada makes its first appearance at the long-running event with the goal of raising awareness of gymnastics as a lifelong, foundation sport for all, as recognized by the International Olympic Committee and Sport Canada .

The theme for the performances is "Love to Move. Love Gymnastics."

"Gymnastics teaches your child fundamental movement patterns, such as balance and coordination," says Kelly Manjak, who guided Kyle Shewfelt to Olympic gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and is currently the head women's coach at Oakville Gymnastics.

First established in 1969, Gymnastics Canada is the national governing body for the sport of gymnastics in Canada . Gymnastics Canada works closely with the twelve Provincial Federations and the 700 local clubs to promote and provide positive and diverse gymnastics experience through the delivery of quality and safe gymnastics programming.

For further information: Jean Paul Caron at [phone]