This weekend, the VII Estonian gymnastics gala "The Charm of Rural Life" will take place at the Kalevi Central Stadium in Tallinn. Joint rehearsals for the gala have already been going on for a whole week. The information material sent to the performers gave the impression that plastic bottles and plastic bags were prohibited at the stadium. Performers claimed they were warned when they had a muesli bar in a plastic wrapper or yogurt in tetra packs.
The project manager of the gymnastics gala, Lembe Laas, said it was a misunderstanding. She clarified that these guidelines are recommendations, not strictly enforced rules. "We recommended bringing food in reusable plastic containers and using metal spoons and a water bottle," said Laas.
Posters hanging at the stadium stated that disposable food containers might hinder entry to the stadium. Laas said the poster has now been corrected. "We took the poster down and added that these are recommendations," said Laas.
Kristiina Eelmaa, a representative of the security firm G4S, confirmed that security personnel would not confiscate anyone's food. She said security staff would direct performers' attention to the eco-friendly guidelines. "We are not banning anyone from entering the stadium, but we recommend using reusable packaging," said Eelmaa.
There have been issues with food packaging before. Laas recalled that at a previous gala, a large number of plastic bags were used, which caused discontent on social media. Performers also ordered food via delivery services, but the schedule was tight, and the food was left unfinished. Trash bins were filled with polystyrene containers.
Laas said the organizer must find a balance between rules and reality. "How should we behave when, on one hand, there are established rules, and on the other, entry is allowed with various types of packaging?" asked Laas.
Laas advised directing people to use reusable packaging. "We are educating performers in this direction so they use reusable containers. It's like in a store, where you choose a plastic bag instead of a reusable one," said Laas.