Event News

To purchase our great selection of educational videos and webinars, please visit the WBTF Vimeo On Demand page: https://vimeo.com/wbtf/vod_pages

The 2021 WBTF Grand Gala was a grand success! If you missed the livestream, you can still watch the recorded event below.

WBTF will return to Italy for our 35th World Championship and 40th anniversary celebration August 1 to 7, 2022.  Meetings will be scheduled August 1-3 and the championship will be held August 4-7.  The event will be held in Turin, Italy.   

Our baton twirling family is looking forward to reuniting again on the world stage. We miss our friends and the excitement of watching and experiencing the fabulous head-to-head competition of our sport’s best athletes.   

While we are still finding our way through these uncertain times, WBTF is committed to providing opportunities for athletes and professionals through virtual technology keeping our sport alive through this pandemic even when we are forced to remain apart.  Thanks to the internet and the ways we can remain connected we will survive and look ahead to the bright future of our sport.!

The Federation Twirling Italia is our host for the event and will be providing further information about the 35th World Championship and 40th Anniversary Celebration at a later date.

Athletes and coaches please note: the age eligibility rule for the championship reverts to the original rule:  Junior athletes are 12 years of age to 17 years of age and Senior athletes are 18 years of age or older during the year of the World Championships, from January 1 through December 31, 2022.

Stay well and stay positive!

Sandi Wiemers, President 

WORLD BATON TWIRLING FEDERATION                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

On behalf of the WBTF Board of Directors  

#wbtfbaton

WBTF Board Representative Spotlight – 2021

WBTF wishes to spotlight our member representatives to the Board of Directors during the next few months.  We thank each of them for sharing a little information about themselves and what their goals are for the future in baton twirling.

Name: *
Motoaki Tsuchiya

Country & Name of Federation:
Baton Twirling Association of Japan

1. When and how did you get involved in baton twirling? *
In 1979.  My younger sister was taking baton lessons, and I used to take her to her classes.

2. What leadership positions have you been part of in your country? *
Board representative, Japan.  Deputy Executive Director of BTAJ. Director of International Relations, BTAJ. 

3. How long have you represented your federation in the WBTF? *
1980-1984: a World athlete representing Japan
1988- 2018: the official liaison/interpreter for the Japanese Association
2012- present: WBTF Sport Administrator
2019- present: a board representative, Japan

4. What do you believe is your strongest asset as the WBTF representative of your federation? *
I was a World athlete for Japan, from the 1st until the 5th WBTF World Championships.  I hope my experiences of being an athlete would add extra sights to the management of the National and the International Federations.

5. What do you envision for baton twirling in your country in 10 years? *
Our sport would be recognized as a true sport in Japan, so that our athletes would receive proper recognitions in the society, which they truly deserve.

6. Do you have an occupation outside of baton twirling? *
I work as an interpreter/translator, as well as a lecturer at a college.

7. Tell us a little about yourself … (i.e. family, pets, hobbies, awards, interests, etc.) *
My wife, June and I have two children; a 7 years old Luke (was an abandoned cat) and a 5 years old Timothy (flat-coated retriever).  They are so lovely, but can be very naughty when we are not watching.

8. What is one thing that no one in WBTF knows about you. *
At the 5th WBTF World Championship in Calgary, Canada in 1984, my sister Yasuko also represented for Japan as a senior woman's athlete.  That was Japan's first brother/sister athletes competing together in the same championship.

WBTF Board Representative Spotlight – 2021

WBTF wishes to spotlight our member representatives to the Board of Directors during the next few months.  We thank each of them for sharing a little information about themselves and what their goals are for the future in baton twirling.

Name: *
Andrey Kokoulin

Country & Name of Federation:
Russia:   Russian Federation of Sport Choreography

1. When and how did you get involved in baton twirling? *
2007. Through the Internet. In 2008 we became a member of NBTA. In 2011 a member of WBTF.

2. What leadership positions have you been part of in your country? *
General Secretary of Russian Federation of Sport Choreography. President of Russian Cheer Union (Member of ICU). Leader of the comission of artistic sports in The Committee of Non-Olympic Sports of Russia (member of Olympic Committee of Russia). President of All Russia Dance organization (member of IDO).

3. How long have you represented your federation in the WBTF? *
Since 2011up today

4. What do you believe is your strongest asset as the WBTF representative of your federation? *
We have BT as a sport, recognized by Ministry of Sport. Also we are accreditated by Ministry of Sport.

5. What do you envision for baton twirling in your country in 10 years? *
Continiously grow numbers of athletes, couchers, clubs, competitions.

6. Do you have an occupation outside of baton twirling? *
Yes. In cheer sport

7. Tell us a little about yourself … (i.e. family, pets, hobbies, awards, interests, etc.) *
Kokoulin Andrey

Born 01.06.1963
Have three children
Speak English
Place of living - Russia Moscow
Four universities educations\ Graduated from:
• University of Physical and nuclear energetic
• Scientist research in nuclear energy 
• Diplomatic academy
• University of Physical Culture and Sport (dance sport and cheer)

• 1983-1992 active sport athlete
• President of All-Russian Union of Artistic Sport association
• President in Dance Sport Club CSKA Moscow
• Was a doctor in Russian University of Physical Culture and Sport
• Publisher of the magazine “World Dance”
• Founder and organizer of World Dance olympiads 2004-2019. In 2019 36000 participants from 30 countries.
• Was an organizer more than 170 dance, cheer, rope skipping, twirling and other sport events: includes European and World championships,
• Organizer of ECU league competitions since 2012
• President of All Russian Dance Organization
• President of Russian cheer & cheerleading Union
• Official licensed judge of IDO
• General Secretary in Russian Sport Choreography Federation
• Vice president of International Dance Organization
• International Cheer Union representative in Russia 
• Board member of European Cheer Union
• Vice-president of International Rope Skipping Organization (IRSO)
• Chairmen of artistic sport commission in Non-Olympic sport committee of Russia.
• President of "Russian Federation of rope skipping" (RFRS).
• President of «Football Skating Federation of Russia» (FSFR).
• President of «Russian Dodgeball Federation» (RDBF).

8. What is one thing that no one in WBTF knows about you. *
"To win the battle one should win in small things" - my general rulle

WBTF Board Representative Spotlight – 2021

WBTF wishes to spotlight our member representatives to the Board of Directors during the next few months.  We thank each of them for sharing a little information about themselves and what their goals are for the future in baton twirling.

The Spotlight is on Amelie Nilsson, President SBTF - Sweden:  Svenska Drillförbundet SDF

Country & Name of Federation:

SWEDEN- SWEDISH BATON TWIRILING FEDERATION

1. When and how did you get involved in baton twirling? *
I started as active many years ago in 1984 when I was part of Helsingborgs Drumcorps twirling section. We did many tours and performances around Europe for many years until about 1994. A few years after that I startes my own Twirlingassociation that is still active today as a part of our top elite in Sweden.

2. What leadership positions have you been part of in your country? *
I have been leader of twirling association, leader of Technical Commission in Sweden and now President for Sweden

3. How long have you represented your federation in the WBTF? *
Since 2017

4. What do you believe is your strongest asset as the WBTF representative of your federation? *
In Sweden we have done a great job the last few years of working together with all our committees. To communicate is my and our strength in our federation to bring out the best of Sweden for the WBTF

5. What do you envision for baton twirling in your country in 10 years? *
I envision that we have a strong section with majorettes as well as we have today with our acticve within our gymnastic twirling section. I also envision and hope that we have a strong regrowth to build our sport on for the future of Baton Twirling in Sweden.

6. Do you have an occupation outside of baton twirling? *
I work within the corporation of Circle K

7. Tell us a little about yourself … (i.e. family, pets, hobbies, awards, interests, etc.) *
I live in Helsingborg in the south of Sweden where we arranged Eurotwirl in 2013 and World Championships in 2016. I live with my family, husband Stephan, two children Filippa 8 years and Alexander 12 years and our dog Kajsa. We live really close to the sea and love to hang out on the beach in the summer. We also love to go skiing in the Alps in winter times. I have also always had a big interest beside twirling with horses and has a lot of experience in this sport as well.

8. What is one thing that no one in WBTF knows about you. *
I´m a really good skier :)

WBTF Board Representative Spotlight – 2021

WBTF wishes to spotlight our member representatives to the Board of Directors during the next few months.  We thank each of them for sharing a little information about themselves and what their goals are for the future in baton twirling.

The Spotlight is on Joanne Moser, President CBTF - Canada:

Country & Name of Federation:

CANADA- CANADIAN BATON TWIRILING FEDERATION

1. When and how did you get involved in baton twirling? *
My daughter began taking lessons from Maureen Johnson in 1999. I started out as a parent volunteer.

2. What leadership positions have you been part of in your country? *

I was the national First Vice President and am now the President.

4. What do you believe is your strongest asset as the WBTF representative of your federation? *
I am a confident public speaker, I have a strong business background, and I am always looking for opportunities to give my knowledge to and volunteer for the WBTF to improve its ongoing operations and finances.

5. What do you envision for baton twirling in your country in 10 years? *
My vision for baton twirling in Canada is to have the sport be active in every province and gain national sport recognition in the next 10 years.

6. Do you have an occupation outside of baton twirling? *
I am a litigation lawyer plus I am the chairperson of two administrative tribunals.

7. Tell us a little about yourself … (i.e. family, pets, hobbies, awards, interests, etc.) *
I have two children who competed nationally and internationally in baton twirling. I take baton twirling lessons from Maureen Johnson. I am a WBTF Master Judge and a CBTF Judge. I also train in Olympic style boxing. In 2017 I was designated Queen’s Counsel, in recognition of my contributions to the legal profession and the community.

8. What is one thing that no one in WBTF knows about you. *
The secret will be out now - I have an irrational fear of bridges!

WBTF Board Representative Spotlight – 2021

WBTF wishes to spotlight our member representatives to the Board of Directors during the next few months.  We thank each of them for sharing a little information about themselves and what their goals are for the future in baton twirling.

The Spotlight is on Marina Mihelcic, President of CTF Croatia:

Country & Name of Federation:

CROATIA- CROATIEN TWIRLING FEDERATION

1. When and how did you get involved in baton twirling? *

I was a dancer, start with majorettes, and then get in love in twirling. That happened 2001 in Spain.

2. What leadership positions have you been part of in your country? *

President

3. How long have you represented your federation in the WBTF? *

Since 2011

4. What do you believe is your strongest asset as the WBTF representative of your federation? *

That I really want  my federation to make progress in WBTF and help to have one big WORLD ORGANIZATION

5. What do you envision for baton twirling in your country in 10 years? *

I hope we will improve and have twirlers on high levels.

6. Do you have an occupation outside of baton twirling? *

I am a dance teacher and I have my own studio

7. Tell us a little about yourself … (i.e. family, pets, hobbies, awards, interests, etc.) *

I have a husband, son and daughter, 3 grandchildren. One is twirler. I have 6 dogs, my hobby is writing stories, I get an award for work with young people, and twirling as a sport, and I get an award as a coach for dancing. I like to make shows, what I am very often doing.

8. What is one thing that no one in WBTF knows about you. *

That I studied to be veterinarian.