A Gymnastics club from Middlesbrough are preparing to represent Britain on the world stage as they form part of the largest ever team to perform at the biggest celebration of the sport on the planet this week.

Middlesbrough Gymnastics Club are sending 22 gymnasts soundtracked by the Spice Girls to the World Gymnaestrada in Amsterdam.

They will join over 20,000 participants from 50 other nations to create a spectacular festival of gymnastics in the Dutch capital.

Lauren Wells, head coach of the club, said: “We pick a theme every year and we just thought The Spice Girls was quite fitting because everyone around the world knows all the songs so it’s something that everyone can get involved in and enjoy.

“Our girls will get to experience a world event. They’ll get to speak to different people from different countries and obviously make friends with people from the Great Britain delegation.

“I’m sure they will be friends for life with people from different areas of the country and it's a great thing for them to experience.”

First staged in 1953, the World Gymnaestrada is a non-competitive and inclusive event held every four years that celebrates the joy of the sport, reflecting the new vision launched earlier this year for gymnastics in the UK to deliver an uplifting experience for all.

The event is open to everybody, regardless of gender, age, race, religion, culture, or ability or disability.

The 2023 edition will see participants wow the crowds with gymnastics displays in locations across Amsterdam between 30 July – 5 August.

Founded in 2008, Middlesbrough Gymnastics Club has featured at the extravaganza just once previously but showed just what they could do at last year’s Ministrada, an event won by Wells’ youngsters in Liverpool.

“We just want to keep the same standard, even if it's not a competition as such,” said Wells. “The girls will definitely want to do some successful rotations.”

The focus on providing an enjoyable and memorable experience for participants and the audience alike is at the heart of the World Gymnaestrada and why this year, British Gymnastics is supporting a record number of gymnasts to take part.

“Our club is really small and obviously it is all voluntary,” added Wells.

“We don't run it for money or to make it massive, it's just a really personal feel, I think.

“All our coaches work full time and we’ve all had to book holiday for it, so it's a massive commitment. To watch the girls do well and represent Great Britain is a really good thing and we’re really proud of them.”

British Gymnastics will be bringing the joy and celebration of the World Gymnaestrada experience to life across its digital channels throughout the event, and you can read more about the new vision for gymnastics in the UK to deliver an uplifting experience for all at www.british-gymnastics.org/vision