EDE Gymnastics, gymnastics and recreational sports association Sparta Ede celebrated its 125th anniversary in September last year. On the occasion of this jubilee, the king has decided to award the Royal Medal of Honor to the Ede association. Mayor René Verhulst handed over the certificate accompanying the medal to the board of the association on Wednesday.
Sparta Ede is one of six gymnastics associations in the municipality of Ede and offers a wide range of lessons for young and old, ranging from gymnastics lessons to badminton. Sparta is a member of the Royal Dutch Gymnastics Union and currently has 176 members. The association aims to stimulate gymnastics in the broadest sense of the word and thereby promote public health.
FIRST YEARS Gymnastics club Sparta was founded in 1896. In the first years only men and boys were members of the association. In 1921 there was also a women’s/girls department and from 1935 toddlers could take lessons. The association has had its own Sparta building for seventeen years. Sparta has organized many performances followed by a ball.
EDERKILL During the Second World War, competitions were held and a performance was organized in 1943 in collaboration with the Circle of the National Championships in the Ederkuil, the open-air theater in Ede. 4200 paying visitors were present for the afternoon performance.
DISASTER YEAR 1944 was a disaster year for the association. During the bombardment of September 17, their training location received a direct hit, with the result that the whole had to be demolished. Sparta did not give up and ensured that the practice afternoons/evenings could be resumed as soon as possible. They also took part in demonstrations and parades.
The association has always been more than just sport for its members, according to the municipality. Sparta was also drama, games, outings and even just eating cherries.
The Royal Medal of Honor is a decoration that can be awarded to associations, foundations or institutions or to sports associations. It symbolizes the respect and appreciation the king has for the recipient’s special merits.
