CEO Message | Christmas 2020
2020 has been quite a year! However, it has reminded us just how passionate and committed to gymnastics our members are.
The way our clubs kept everyone involved during lockdown to help members’ physical and mental health and well-being is a credit to the sport and the country. Our #130Awards on social media give you an idea of their amazing work which also helped families of gymnasts and the wider community.
Clubs adapted to Covid-19 restrictions to allow gymnasts to resume activity outdoors and then indoors using the step forward plan – created to protect gymnastics across the UK – and by following the frequently changing guidance.
We know how frustrating the restrictions have been but we thank you for your patience and keeping our sport safe. We will continue to share the latest Scottish Government and sportscotland regulations and guidance with you, as we have a responsibility for doing what we can to keep members safe when they are taking part in gymnastics.
It may not feel like it at the moment with the latest restrictions, but we can start to look forward to 2021 with the vaccination programme which will help us get our lives back on track. First of all, our clubs in mainland Scotland sadly have to close again for a minimum of three weeks from 26 December and those in the islands move into protection level 3 restrictions. We also need to deal with the ongoing financial implications of Covid: we are planning our activities from April accordingly and the year ahead will still face disruption before we fully have Scottish Gymnastics back to where we want to be.
The global pandemic has been challenging and I know it has been, and continues to be, more difficult for some than for others. We hope, once we start to move down the levels again, the new year will bring cheer for the clubs that are still unable to reopen and access facilities. This has been particularly hard for those involved and you have our ongoing support. We are working with the other Scottish sport governing bodies to have a stronger voice and help influence the political landscape and the top priority is facility access.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to gymnastics during 2020. This is one of the toughest years we have had to face and not quite the celebration of 130 years of Scottish Gymnastics we had planned!
While Christmas is also not what we had hoped for, and you may not be able to spend the time you'd planned with family and friends, on behalf of the team at Scottish Gymnastics, I wish you and your family a safe, merry Christmas and a healthy, happy new year.
Doc McKelvey
CEO