7 July 2008
The Scottish Gymnastics Association has a great deal to celebrate with news of their first ever Olympian, Daniel Keatings and a record investment from sportscotland.
The £659,150 investment to Scottish Gymnastics Association (SGA), of which £493,650 is from the sportscotland Lottery Fund, marks a significant increase in investment to the sport and will give Scotland’s young gymnasts the support they need to get involved and fulfil their potential.
Announcing the funding, Louise Martin CBE, Chair, sportscotland said; “Firstly I would like to congratulate Daniel Keatings on his magnificent achievement and wish him all the best in Beijing.
“Scottish Gymnastics has gone from strength to strength and the increase in funding announced today reflects the giant strides this organisation has taken over the last few years.
“Getting the basics right is essential and SGA is delivering both as a sport and an organisation. More and more young people are taking up gymnastics and thanks to sportscotland’s funding and a great deal of hard work, SGA have the structures in place to ensure that everyone can get the most out of their gymnastics experience, whatever their level.”
The funding comes at a very exciting time for Scottish Gymnastics following the news that a Scottish gymnast has been selected for the Olympics for the first time ever. Eighteen year old Daniel Keatings is one of only two men selected for the British team for Beijing and will be aiming for a place in the pommel final and maybe even the podium. Daniel proved he is one to watch when he captained the British team at this year’s Junior European Championships, winning four gold medals, including the prestigious Overall Junior Champion of Europe. His form has continued at senior level, taking gold in the pommel horse at a World Cup event in Moscow in June.
Endorsing the investment in Scottish Gymnastics, Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell said:
“The selection of a Scottish gymnast to the Olympic team for the first time is a fantastic achievement and shows the sport is setting the high bar for success in Scotland.
“This Government has great ambitions for sport and through sportscotland, we want to nurture and fund the stars of tomorrow.
“This funding will help encourage more young people, particularly girls, to take part in gymnastics and feel the benefit of an active, healthy lifestyle.”
Gymnastics is a hugely popular sport in Scotland, especially among girls. Over 35,000 young Scots participate in clubs and local authority sessions and there are currently thousands more on waiting lists keen to take up this exciting and dynamic sport which also teaches many of the core skills for other sports. Today’s funding will ensure that those youngsters are given the opportunity to develop their potential and for some, to deliver medal success at future events including the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 and Glasgow in 2014.
Lynn Milne, President of Scottish Gymnastics welcomed the investment: “Without the ever-increasing support from sportscotland, gymnastics in Scotland simply wouldn’t be in the strong position it is now. All of us within the sport recognise that.
“Coaches are the backbone of sport and the increase in funding from sportscotland will enable us to employ three more full-time coaches. For the first time ever, we will be able to put a full preparation programme in place ahead of the Commonwealth Games.”
- In 2007 sportscotland invested over £10 million in 54 sports governing bodies
- The £659,150 investment in the Scottish Gymnastics Association is made up of £493,650 from the sportscotland Lottery Fund and £165,500 from Scottish Government sportscotland funding.
- Daniel Keatings is supported by the Scottish Institute of Sport, the high performance arm of sportscotland and funded through the UK Sport World Class Performance programme.
- Gymnastics is both an Olympic and Commonwealth Games sport.
- Statistics from Scottish Gymnastics 2006 Workforce Development Survey.
