Gymnasts urge rethink on training site closure

A student has set up a petition urging a rethink after his university gymnastics team was notified its training facility may be closing next year.

George Honnor, 19, said he and his Loughborough Llamas teammates received an informal call from university officials to notify them of the plans – which the university said are still under consideration.

He said: “We have been told the university is closing down our training facility in March in order to use the space for something more profitable.

“Loughborough claims to be the Sports University of the Year.

“However, it values profit over the 98 athletes of this club, not to mention the hundreds of other athletes in clubs such as cheerleading, trampolining and ski and snow sports who also use the facility.

George said: “We have gymnasts who aim to compete in the 2022 World Student Games in China, who will not get this opportunity if the facility is closed.

“We have members who attend this university simply for the gymnastics facility, including freshers who will now be stuck here for the next three to four years, if not longer.

“This process was done with no consultation of any of our committee, coach or any members and, most importantly, with no contingency plan for our club after the club will close in less than six months.

“It is not viable to find a reasonable contingency plan in this time.

“It is clear the university have no regard for its athletes in this sport, even though we are providing them with a profound legacy in the sport.

“We have started a petition to save our facility, which received an astonishing 5,000 signatures in just over 24 hours.”

John Steele, Loughborough University’s director of sport, said: “With a growing number of sports clubs and student athletes on campus, we have seen a significant increase in student numbers within our gym facilities over the past five years.

“The launch of our Para Sport Strategy has also led to an increase in the number of para-athletes and students with disabilities that need specialist space in which to train.

“To ensure our facilities are inclusive for all and continue to support as many students as possible we need to regularly review demand and use.

“The gymnastics centre is used by about 400 students. Under the new proposal the venue would provide gym capacity for about 2,500 more students and athletes.

“The university continues to be in conversation with representatives from all the clubs that use the gymnastics centre.

“If the change of use for the gymnastics centre goes ahead, no club will be left without an alternative option for training.”