June 20, 2011, Vancouver - From July 1-13, 2011, students of the Shudokan Karate and Education Canada Society will be visiting the Federal Republic of Germany in an exchange with German youth. The purpose of the visit is to promote respect, understanding and the sharing of culture through sport. They will be staying in the small town of Artern in the historic region and state of Thuringia (German: Thüringen).

Thuringia is a region of great natural beauty and an older culture and is sometimes referred to as the "land of castles and palaces." It is a region famous for its history with links to extremely important historical events and extraordinary people such as Martin Luther, Goethe, Bach, and Schiller. For example, the town of Weimarbrims with cultural places of interest and virtually the whole town is listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site and includes both Goethe's and Schiller's house. It is also recognised as the place where Germany's first democratic constitution was signed after the First World War--giving its name to the Weimar Republic period in German politics from 1918-1933.

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