‘Monumental’ Team GB achievements contribute to growth in grassroots gymnastics
by Matthew Campelli | 22 Dec 2016
Jane Allen (centre) said 2016 had been the sport's best year ever
The success experienced by Team GB’s gymnastic squad at the Rio 2016 Olympics has contributed to further growth in grassroots participants.
Recreational club participation grew by 13 per cent in 2016 (28,000), adding to the 100,000 extra people taking part since the 2012 London Games.
A further 1,500 individuals have signed up to British Gymnastics’ disability programme.
The boost in numbers has required the national governing body to complete work on 40 facility development projects, boosting club and satellite club capacity by 10,000 across the country. Improvements were made with the help of a £1m (US$1.23m, €1.18m) Sport England grant.
Interest in the sport received a boost during and following a stellar Rio Games, where five medals were won and the likes of Max Whitlock and Bryony Page became household names.
Jane Allen, chief executive of British Gymnastics, called 2016 “a monumental year, our best ever”.
“The sport and our organisation is going through an incredible period,” she added.
“It started with the countdown to the highly-anticipated Rio 2016 Olympic Games, it peaked with truly monumental medal results and finished with fantastic achievements to celebrate from right across the organisation.”
gymnastics British Gymnastics Jane Allen Olympics Sport England08 Dec 2016
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FEATURE: People profiles – Patrick Bonner
FEATURE: People profiles – Jane Allen
The success experienced by Team GB’s gymnastic squad at the Rio 2016 Olympics has contributed to further growth in grassroots participants. Recreational club participation grew by 13 per cent in 2016 (28,000), adding to the 100,000 extra people taking part since the 2012 London Games. A further 1,500 individuals have signed up to British Gymnastics’ disability programme. The boost in numbers has required the national governing body to complete work
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