Scottish Gymnastics hopes to reap the benefits of London staging the 2012 Olympic Games and is gearing up for a surge of interest. This weekend, gymnasts from all over Scotland will attend Gymfest 2007 at the Magnum Leisure Centre in Irvine.
The sport’s governing body hopes to increase participation in the build-up to 2012. It commissioned a workforce development plan to identify levels of participation and look at coaching provision. It found that 16,000 to 27,000 youngsters took part in gymnastics in a given year - 3 to 5 per cent of four to 12-year-olds.
Scottish Gymnastics aims to increase participation by 4 per cent per annum and is looking at what coaching and facilities would be required. It is also considering a rhythmic gymnastic programme.
It’s a busy period, with the Scottish Championships at Bells’ Sports Centre in Perth from June 23-24. Meanwhile, the Tryst Centre in Cumbernauld is hosting a Safeguarding and Protecting Children course on May 13, and Falkirk School of Gymnastics will have a Safe Gym for All programme on May 27.