Friday 31 August 2007
As Scottish Gymnastics prepares for this weekend’s Gymfest in Inverness, sportscotland is delighted to announce £350,000 investment in the sports governing body for 2007/08.
The investment, of which £210,000 is from the sportscotland Lottery Fund, will go towards strengthening the sport’s infrastructure, coaching, performance development and athlete support, maintaining sportscotland’s role as the primary supporter of Scottish Gymnastics.
Over 1000 gymnasts from all over Scotland aged between five and 40 years old and nearly 2000 spectators are expected in Inverness for the three day event. Gymfest events provide the opportunity for all gymnasts to perform and succeed at their own level. All attendees have the opportunity to display their talent to family, friends and other gymnasts in a non-competitive, stress-free and enjoyable setting.
The displays at Gymfest Inverness will incorporate a wide range of gymnastics disciplines with performances undertaken by schools, dance troops and clubs including Spartac a disabilities inclusive team from the north of England.
Gymnastics is recognised as a sport that contributes significantly to the development of agility, balance and co-ordination. It has been identified as one of the three foundation sports that will facilitate long term player development in all sports. Children who participate regularly in gymnastics build confidence, develop muscular strength and flexibility and are encouraged to maintain a lifelong healthy, physically active lifestyle. In addition those who have participated in gymnastics or dance before they become involved in other sports are thought to have improved skill acquisition in new sports.
The sport is proving so popular in Scotland that a recent report estimated that over 100,000 people are regular participants with approximately 3,500 youngsters on waiting lists to join gymnastic clubs across the country. One of the challenges for Scottish Gymnastics is to try and reduce these waiting lists by increasing the levels of access to multi-sport halls and also trying to secure the expansion of purpose-built gymnastics facilities.
A proportion of today’s investment will enable Scottish Gymnastics to appoint three full time coaches for the first time in their history. Part of these funds will also enable a greater number of coaches to build on their qualifications and experience as part of the UK Coaching Certificate, resulting in more and better coaches.
Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair, sportscotland said: ”Scottish Gymnastics has done a fantastic job in getting so many youngsters involved in the sport and are making a significant contribution to our joint goals of increased participation and improved performance.
“The appointment of three full time coaches is a huge step forward for the governing body and is a tremendous boost to the sport.”
Communities and Sport Minister Stewart Maxwell said: "This investment is great news for gymnastics in Scotland. It will help to improve the infrastructure of this increasingly popular sport and will enable Scottish Gymnastics to employ a record number of full-time coaches."
Mike Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Gymnastics said: “Scottish Gymnastics is delighted to have received this significant investment which will help support the growing demand for gymnastics in Scotland and the association’s aspiration to provide full pathways for all whether at recreational or competitive level.
“Underpinning this support Scottish Gymnastics is also working on developing the network of available gymnastics facilities in Scotland to allow the sport to fully cater for demand which currently outstrips supply of the sport.”
- The £350,000 investment in Scottish Gymnastics is made up of £210,000 from the sportscotland Lottery Fund and £140,000 from sportscotland Exchequer funding from the Scottish Executive.
- sportscotland supports 60 Scottish sports governing bodies and in 2006 invested over £8 million in these organisations.
- sportscotland passionately believe in the benefits of sport from the enjoyment and sense of achievement that participation brings, to the shared pride that national success generates.
- Our mission is to encourage everyone in Scotland to discover and develop their own sporting experience, helping to increase participation and improve performances in Scottish sport.
- We aim to achieve our mission by leading and supporting our partners, investing National Lottery and Scottish Executive funding where it counts and advising on policy and strategy for the future.
- Gymfest Inverness takes place between the 31 August to 2 September at the Inverness Sports Centre, Bught Park Inverness.
- Mike Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Athletics will be available for interview between 11am and 12pm at Inverness Sports Centre. His contact number is 07958 684383