Gymnastics hope for re-opening

SPORTING clubs all around the state have felt the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns, with some feeling that gymnastics has affected the worst of all.

In response to the ongoing restrictions on training and competitions, Ballarat’s Eureka Gymnastics Club have pleaded to the Victorian Government and community leaders for a one-off grant to help dozens of clubs around the state get back on their feet.

Head coach Caleb Tivendale said the club was hit hard by the pandemic, with staff and volunteers stood down and connections with gymnasts quickly diminishing.

“Coronavirus has devastated gymnastics, and as our community starts to re-open we need help reconnecting with our participants of our sport so that gymnastics can safely re-open,” he said.

“We’ve written to local government and members of parliament to urge them to back our request for help and are hopeful the Victorian Government will support our sport getting back on its feet.

“It is really frustrating for us, located in a regional city that has gone 12 days straight without a new case but yet we need to wait until the whole of Victoria has had no cases for 14 days in a row before we can run classes indoors.”

While many sports such as cricket and bowls, along with other recreation facilities announcing a recommencement or reopening, the gymnastics community have been left feeling confused.

Additionally, Mr Tivendale said it’s been hard to keep some of the kids interested.

“That just adds to the level of frustration that I feel, because there just doesn’t seem to be a good reason to keep the club closed,” he said.

“Playgrounds are open, schools are open and even going on camps but we have to stay shut.

“We ran classes online from April to June, and again from August to now, but the kids just want to be back in the gym and many of them don’t have the space at home.”

With the aim of getting gymnastics clubs to reopen in line with schools, Gymnastics Victoria has appealed to the Victorian sports minister Ros Spence for a $2.4 million grant to be shared among 128 clubs around the state.

“We need this grant so that our club, and others across Victoria, have the best possible chance of recovering from COVID and so future generations of young Victorians can have a structured, safe and professional gymnastics experience,” Mr Tivendale said.