98 gymnastics venues around Australia cease affiliation with Gymnastics Australia, young gymnasts face competition bans

98 gymnastics venues around Australia have ceased affiliation of their recreational programs with the sport’s governing bodies despite the threat of competition bans reports SHANNON GILL.

98 gymnastics venues have chosen to cease affiliation with Gymnastics Australia and its state bodies.

While Gymnastics Australia has its eyes on the Paris Olympics, the crisis at home within the grassroots of the sport deepens.

Ninety-eight gymnastics venues have now affiliated their recreational programs with private provider Recreational Gymnastics Australia, using their accreditation service and drawing the ire of state and national bodies.

In most cases these clubs have registered their recreational business with RGA to minimise unnecessary costs and access more relevant services, while keeping their competitive gymnasts registered with the governing bodies so they can access pathways to compete in state and national championships.

However, last month gymnastics clubs around Australia spoke out about being pressured into also registering their recreational programs with the governing bodies, amid threats of bans on their competitive gymnasts taking part in competitions.

Allstars Gymnastics in Queensland has already been banned, while other clubs that have spoken up have now been put on a shorter deadline to affiliate its recreational section or else be expelled from competition.

Clubs wanting to switch to RGA are now scared they will be expelled. Others that have try to keep their affiliation secret.

Allstar Gymnastics owner Vicki Flamsteed spoke out over the issue as her gymnasts remain banned from competition. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Allstar Gymnastics owner Vicki Flamsteed spoke out on the issue last month and her competitors remain banned.

Instead, Flamsteed’s young charges have been faced with the ludicrous situation of having to travel more than six hours on a bus from Toowoomba to Dubbo to find a competition that will take them.

If all 98 venues were treated consistently across Australia, more than 36,000 gymnasts would effectively be ignored by the governing body and many young competitors banned from competing with their clubs.

That they are not is another puzzling aspect to the issue.

PCYC Queensland, which has more than 25 venues and is government funded, has renamed its 0-5 years gymnastics programs and de-affiliated it with Gymnastics Queensland, yet its competitive programs have not been banned from Gymnastics Queensland competition.

The rules for some and rules for others approach has many in the sport’s community mystified.

Many young gymnasts face being banned from competitions if all 98 venues were treated consistently. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Recreational Gymnastics Australia general manager Jo Richards said the evolution of the sport into one powered by small businesses across the country meant a rethink on administration was required.

“It’s not a community basketball club where the coaches are all volunteers and there’s no one earning a living,” Richards said.

“The livelihoods of the business are impacted by this and it also has an impact on the livelihoods of those employed as coaches.

“If those small businesses at grassroots level disappear it would be almost impossible for not-for-profit clubs to materialise and take their place these days.”

Richards said gymnastics should be following the lead shown by other sports.

“The best example is Learn to Swim, being the same principle as Gymnastics’ Learn to Move; physical literacy for young kids,’’ he said.

Jo Richards says gymnastics need to take a page from other sports like swimming. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“Swimming Australia doesn’t punish swimming clubs if they also run a Learn to Swim program.

“Snow Australia embraced the resorts and worked with them on their learn to ski programs.

“They provide whatever support they can to help them, without trying to own it or take a fee from everyone that buys a lift ticket.

“Triathlon Australia doesn’t run events, they just embrace the professional triathlon providers.

“There are plenty of examples around of sports embracing change and embracing

alternative models.”

Gymnastics Australia was contacted for comment on the issue more than five weeks ago but no answers to questions have been received.

Originally published as 98 gymnastics venues around Australia cease affiliation with Gymnastics Australia, young gymnasts face competition bans