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CONTROVERSY OVER CHINESE GYMNASTICS GROWS AS DAILY MAIL PUBLISHES PHOTOS OF YOUNG GYMNASTS
The Daily Mail news paper today published disturbing photographs of young children from the Chinese Gym featured in Matthew Pinsent’s article on BBC News which was broadcast last night. I find it very difficult not to question my love of a sport that I have had since first seeing Olga Korbut in the Olympics almost 30 years ago as the haunting images stare at me from the paper.
The Mail describes how children are talent spotted by Officials as their desperately poor families are keen to have them sent to board at one of China’s 3,000 “Schools of Sport” where the Government pays for their education and upkeep. According to the Mail, the parent’s then dream of International stardom for their child and huge financial rewards after each Chinese Gold medallist at the 2004 Olympic Games received £15,000 which is equivalent to 23 times an average Beijinger’s annual income.
The President of British Gymnastics Brian Stocks commented “ The thought of the Chinese beating children is abhorrent. I can’t believe they would do this as a nation”. The Chinese Olympic Committee today totally rejected any allegations of abuse. The reports in the newspaper and the BBC must also be balanced against the comments from the IOC who stated that last week a group of international journalists had spoken to athletes, including gymnasts, at Beijing's national training centre and had been "very impressed with the people they met and the training they saw".
However we feel that after seeing these photos, these allegations must be fully investigated urgently by the IOC and the FIG and anyone found guilty of abuse must be severely punished.
BBC BROADCASTS DISTURBING SCENES FROM CHINESE GYM
MATTHEW PINSENT DESCRIBES HIS SHOCK AT CHINESE TRAINING METHODS
Just three days after the International Olympic Committee’s medical commission published guidelines on the treatment of elite child athletes, the BBC tonight broadcast a disturbing report by Olympic legend Sir Matthew Pinsent on Chinese gymnasts aged between 4 and 8 at a Gymnastics School in Beijing. Children study in the mornings and some groups train for upwards of 3 hours a day in the afternoon. Pinsent said he was shocked by the constant repetitions and lack of praise or encouragement from the Coaches. He described the school as a “ having one goal, to win Olympic Medals, the School is a medals factory”.
The four-times gold medallist rower assessed China's preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games for BBC Radio Five Live and described children in pain while training and claimed a boy had been beaten by his coach, said: "It was a pretty disturbing experience."
The report showed a boy with marks on his back and Matthew questioned the Deputy Director who said “ I think generally beating children is not a proper way to improve performance but it is unavoidable to some degree since Coaches are under great pressure. It depends on the personality of the coaches so those problems might happen if the children behave badly”. Pinsent also questioned other young boys who described being hit by their coaches. Matthew then questioned an Official from the Beijing Olympic Committee who denied the claims that children are abused.
Olympic officials said it would be inappropriate to comment on "third hand" remarks at this stage. "It is important that people do not jump to conclusions on this important issue, but make judgements on clear facts. It would be inappropriate to comment on Matthew Pinsent's remarks which the IOC has only heard third hand and understands are more a personal interpretation," said International Olympic Committee communications director Giselle Davies.
Pinsent, a former IOC and current British Olympic Association member, felt children were being pushed beyond acceptable limits in pursuit of excellence. He was disappointed that this appeared to be regarded as necessary. He said "I know it is gymnastics and that sport has to start its athletes young, but I have to say I was really shocked. I was wondering whether the Western approach compared to the Eastern approach is a bit different, but I do think those kids are being abused. When I talked to the vice-principals, they said hitting was against the law, but then there were parents who want you to do it. They said this is what they needed to do to make them hard."
The choice of Beijing to host the Games has been condemned in some quarters because of the country's poor human rights record.
Davies added that last week a group of international journalists had spoken to athletes, including gymnasts, at Beijing's national training centre and had been "very impressed with the people they met and the training they saw".
The International Gymnastics Federation has also promised to raise the issue with China's gymnastics officials during the World Championships in Melbourne later this month.
Gymnastics Online’s View - Whilst we understand the need for countries to achieve success at International Level, there can never be any excuse for hitting a child because they have made a mistake or not performed a move correctly. Some years ago it was claimed that a Romanian Coach was jailed for hitting a young girl so hard that she died from her injuries. Sadly there have also been a number of cases in the USA recently where coaches have been convicted of sexual abuse. This must never be allowed to happen anywhere again, and we totally condemn any form of abuse of gymnasts or any child. With the eyes of the World on Beijing as we move closer to the Olympic Games in 2008, any wrongdoing should be exposed and severely punished by the Officials who are responsible for implementing the IOC’s own directives. Gymnastics is a sport which millions enjoy watching and participating in. Let us hope that this is an isolated case which will now be stopped. We must never again return to the dark days of Eastern European and Chinese methods which bring shame to the sport and cause unnecessary suffering to young children whom we must all protect and encourage.
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14th November - USA TEAM NAMED FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS!
NASTIA, CHELLSIE, ALICIA & JANA SET FOR WORLD’S!
USA Gymnastics have confirmed details of the 4 gymnasts who will compete in Melbourne at the Artistic World Championships which begin on 22 November. The 6 gymnasts selected to trial at a final Selection Camp at Karoyli’s Gym from 9-13 November were Nastia Liukin, Chellsie Memmel, Jana Bieger, Alicia Sacramon, Kassi Price & Annie DiLuzio. And we can now confirm that Nastia, Chellsie, Jana and Alicia have made the final four and will travel to Melbourne later tomorrow!
Chellsie Memmel who won the All Around Title at the 2005 Pan Am Championships won the Individual All Around Title at the Pan Am Championships last week and will be determined to make up for the disappointment of missing out on selection for the Athens Olympics due to injury.
At the 2005 Visa Championships, Nastia Liukin won the all-around, uneven bars and balance beam titles, as well as finishing second on the floor exercise. Sacramone claimed the vault and floor exercise titles and was third on the balance beam. Memmel was second in the all-around, uneven bars and balance beam, with a third in the floor exercise. Bieger was third in the all-around at the Visa Championships, followed by Sacramone and Price in fourth and fifth, respectively. Bieger was also third in the vault and uneven bars, while DiLuzio was second on vault.
Since the Visa Championships, Memmel, Sacramone, Price and Bieger have had success internationally. At last month’s Pan Am Championships, Memmel and Sacramone split the available gold medals, with Memmel topping in the all-around, uneven bars and balance beam and Sacramone winning on the vault and floor exercise. Bieger claimed the vault silver and the floor exercise bronze at the Pan Am Championships. At the Massilia Cup, Price won the all-around, uneven bars and floor exercise gold medals, as well as the silver medal on vault.
Held at Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park, this year’s World Championships features all-around and individual event competition. Qualification rounds determine advancement to the all-around and apparatus finals. The top 24 compete in the all-around finals on November 24-25th. For individual events, the top eight on each apparatus from the qualification rounds advance to the finals which take place from November 26-27th.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILES OF NASTIA LIUKIN, CHELLSIE MEMMEL, ALICIA SACRAMONE & JANA BIEGER!
The U.S. Men’s Team for the World Championships has already been named and consists of Jason Gatson of Mesa, Ariz./Team Chevron; Sean Golden of Houston/Houston Gymnastics Academy/GymMasters; Justin Spring of Burke, Va./University of Illinois; Kevin Tan of Fremont, Calif./Penn State University; Todd Thornton of Pearland, Texas/Team Chevron; and Yewki Tomita of Tucson, Ariz./Team Chevron. David Sender who competes for Stanford University, is the reserve.
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15 NOVEMBER - TOP INTERNATIONAL ACROBATS IN FREEDOM CUP
FANTASTIC LINE UP INCLUDES USA CHAMPIONS, KAZAKHSTAN PLUS HARROW, CHERMOND AND OXFORD
Terrific news for Acro fans today as USA Gymnastics have just confirmed that six members of the US Senior National Team plus Junior Olympic national team members to a 3 day International Freedom Cup from November 17-19th at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex in Landover, MD.. The meet includes acrobatic gymnasts from Australia, England, Kazakhstan, Puerto Rico and Wales.
The six members of the senior national team are: Clare Brunson of Riverside, Calif., and Michael Rodrigues of Livermore, Calif., mixed pair; Julian Amaro of Pleasanton, Calif., and Tyler Spray of Livermore, Calif., men's pair; and Andre Solodar of San Jose, Calif., and Xiau-Ling Wee of Monte Sereno, Calif., mixed pair. Earlier this year, the mixed pair duo of Brunson and Rodrigues, the reigning national champions, won the Machuga Cup in Krasnodar, Russia, and placed fourth at the World Games in Duisburg, Germany. Solodar and Wee finished behind Brunson and Rodrigues at the 2005 U.S. Championships. Amaro and Spray are the current U.S. men's pair champions.
Among the competitors from Kazakhstan are the men's pairs team of Yevgeniy Drozdov and Rafael Aliyev, who were third at the World Cup event in Puurs, Belgium, and fourth at the World Games in Duisburg, Germany. The event also includes Gaukhar Akhmetova and Alexandra Yenina, who were part of the women's group that earned a bronze medal at the 2005 World Games. A complete roster of international competitors is listed below.
Harrow School of Gymnastics, Chermond, Oxford and a Welsh Team will represent the U.K. at the Freedom Cup in what promises to be a superb competition and a fantastic opportunity for the British Acrobats to gain top class International competition experience as they head towards the British Tournament later this month..
The Freedom Cup will feature competition in women's pairs, men's pairs, mixed pairs, women's group and men's group on both the senior and junior levels. Tickets are available on day of competition at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex. Ticket prices are: adults, $15 per day or $40 for a three-day pass; and children, $7 per day or $15 for a three-day pass; children under seven are admitted free. The schedule is: Nov. 17, 3-5 p.m., age group competition, and 6-9 p.m., Freedom Cup Opening Ceremony and competition; Nov. 18, 4-6 p.m., age group competition, and 7-9 p.m., junior and senior competition; and Nov. 19, 2-3:30 p.m., age group finals, and 4-6 p.m., junior and senior finals.
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International competitors for the Freedom Cup
(listed by country)
Australia (Lynette Ward Acrobatic Gymnastics)
Renee Blake, age group, women's pair
Monique Boswell, junior, women's group
Rachel Cook, age group, women's group
Rebecca Gilmore, junior, women's group
Michelle Hughes, age group, women's group
Melissa McWilliams, junior, women's group
Korynn Morrison, age group, women's group
Lauren Paull, age group, women's group
Emily Sullivan, age group, women's group
Keryn Swadling, age group, women's pair
Jade Waterfield, age group, women's group
England
Chermond School of Gymnastics and Dance
Stacey Aldous, age group, women's pair
Sophie Aldous, age group, women's pair
Tara Betts, age group, women's pair
Kylie Hart, age group, women's pair
Lucy Ladbrooke, age group, women's pair
Laura Ladbrooke, age group, women's pair
Harrow School of Gymnastics
Grace Blacklock, senior, women's group
Jessica Dangerfield, junior, women's group
Joanna Fisher, junior, women's pair
Erin Jameson, senior, women's group
Hannah Kennedy, junior, women's pair
Kelly Mannion, junior, women's pair
Ciara McGrath, junior, women's group
Laura Noone, age group, women's pair
Deborah Owen, junior, women's pair
Rachael Prest, age group, women's pair
Katherine Smith, junior, women's group
Poppy Spalding, age group, women's pair
Ellya Thomas, age group, women's pair
Claire-Louise Thompson, senior, women's group
NB - Full USA Team will be added!
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Harrow School of Gymnastics who are competing in the Freedom Cup this week in the USA! Photos copyright of Ken Summerfield
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Oxford School of Gymnastics
Catherine Aitchison, age group, women's group
Rosie Burr, age group, women's group
Elizabeth Gant, age group, women's group
Rosie Green, age group, women's group
Charmaine Le-Saux, age group, women's group
Ellie Newitt, age group, women's group
Kristie Nurse, age group, women's group
Joanne White, age group, women's group
Laura Woodley, age group, women's group
Kazakhstan
Gaukhar Akhmetova, senior, women's group
Rafael Aliyev, senior, men's pair
Yevgeniy Drozdov, senior, men's pair
Roman Kenzhayev, senior, men's group
Konstantin Kostin, senior, men's group
Olga Lunyova, senior, women's group
Alexei Puzyryov, senior, men's group
Nurat Smagulov, senior, men's group
Alexandra Yenina, senior, women's group
Puerto Rico (Acro Aerial Gymnastics Club)
Migsabet Camara, age group, women's pair
Grisel Carmenaty, age group, women's group
Emmanuel Davila, senior, men's group
Janna Galindez, age group, women's group
Ishyra Garcia, age group, women's pair
Sherimar Garcia, age group, women's group
Joshua Gerena, senior, men's group
Veronica Montano, age group, women's group
Maricel Negron, age group, women's group
Deborah Quiñones, age group, women's group
Ivan Santos, senior, men's group
Ivan Torres, senior, men's group
Wales
Sue Bayley, senior, women's group
Dominic Hodge, junior, mixed pair
Leanne Keryakoplis, senior, women's group
Ashleigh Lavender, senior, women's group
Charlotte Thomas, junior, mixed pair
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BRITISH RHYTHMIC OVERALL CHAMPIONS 2005
Rosie Cossar, Hannah Chappell, Rachel Maguire and Rachel Smith.
Photos copyright of Ken Summerfield Gymnastics Online
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7th November - Great Britain Name Six Gymnasts for World Championships as the Count Down Begins!
British Gymnastics have announced the 6 gymnasts who will represent Great Britain at the World Championships in the Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne from 21st until 28th November.
Over 300 gymnasts representing 54 counties are set to compete including seven of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games gold medallists, the first post - Olympic World Championships will be a thrilling event with new names set to prove their talent on the World stage in font of a global TV audience of millions of gymnastics fans who can’t wait for the Championships to begin! .
The Team is led by Beth Tweddle from Liverpool, the 2003 World Bronze medallist on A. Bars in Anaheim (USA), who had added a number of victories and medals in the most prestigious international competitions ever since. In Melbourne she will be a strong challenger not only on her favourite A. Bars, but also in the All-around and Floor.
Imogen Cairns from The Academy Gym Club has a good chance to make the Finals on Floor and Vault in her first year as Senior Level. Imogen won the English Championships All Around Title last month, plus Bronze medals on these two apparatus at the Glasgow World Cup Grand Prix.
The newcomer in the National Team, the British-American Shavahn Church, from Tarzana, California, is a very athletic and competitive gymnast and could surprise the world elite, particularly on Vault and A. Bars.Shavahn is set to make her debut for GB at the World Championships after recovering from a slight foot injury.
The 2004 Junior European Champion on A. Bars, Rhian Pugh from Bristol Hawks Gym Club was 5th in Glasgow, and Rhian will make her Senior début in Melbourne and has a great chance of reaching the Final if she can hit top form & demonstrate her unique bars routine to the World! .
In the Men’s Events, triple British Champion Ross Brewer (26), from Sutton School of Gymnastics, is the only Brit to compete in the All-around of the Men’s event. It would be a wonderful to see Ross make the Event Finals as a fitting tribute to a great role model for younger gymnasts and an ambassador for our Sport.
While ten years younger Louis Smith, aged 16 from Huntingdon Gym Club, will defend his reputation as an up-and-coming threat to the world’s leading gymnast’s on Pommels. He is the 2004 Junior European Champion and was Bronze medallist in Glasgow with an outstanding performance..
The Head of the British Delegation in Melbourne, Brian Stocks, President of British Gymnastics said: “British Gymnastics have marked an incredible progress over the last few years and we hope that our competitors will prove this in Melbourne. Winning the bids to host the 2009 World Championships and the 2012 Games in London has given a huge boost to our morales and ambitions, and Melbourne will be the stage for the new Olympic cycle to make them known to the rest of the world”.
GB Delegation in Melbourne
Gymnasts:
Ross Brewer MAG Gymnast
Louis Smith MAG Gymnast
Elizabeth Tweddle WAG Gymnast
Shavahn Church WAG Gymnast
Imogen Cairns WAG Gymnast
Rhian Pugh AG Gymnast
Coaches:
Paul Hall MAG Coach
Andrei Popov Observer
Amanda Kirby WAG Coach
Don Peters WAG Coach
Helen Potter WAG Coach
Liz Kincaid WAG Coach
Feng Yu WAG Personal Coach
Individual Best Achievements for GB at World Championships to date:
Men
Neil Thomas MBE - World Silver medallist on Floor in 1993 & 1994
Women
All-around: Holly Murdock - 14th place at the World Championships in Ghent (BEL), 2001
Apparatus: Beth Tweddle- Bronze medal on A. Bars at the World Championships in Anaheim (USA) 2003
GB Participants in the previous World Championships in Anaheim (USA) 2003
Beth Tweddle
Ross Brewer
CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE BRITISH TEAM!
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Beth, Rhian, Imogen & Ross who travel to Melbourne today for the World Championships - Good luck GB!
Photos copyright of Samantha Davies and must not be reproduced without permission.
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U.K. AND AUSTRALIAN T.V. DETAILS FOR ARTISTIC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS CONFIRMED!
And UK and European fans are set for great coverage as major TV Networks confirmed details of the World Championships. Details are as follows:- USA Fans see news story at the bottom of this page to find out how you can watch the World Championships live on the Web!
BBC TV
Thursday, 24th Nov. - Men’s All-around
BBC-2 1300-1400 + 1 hour loop on CBBC TV from 1500
Friday, 25th Nov. - Women’s All-around
BBC-2 1330-1430 + 1 hour loop on CBBC from 1500 + slot in Blue Peter
Saturday, 26th Nov. - Apparatus Finals (M & W)
1 hour loop on Children’s Interactive TV from around 0900 (of Apparatus finals)
BBC-1 Grandstand 1325-1405 highlights of the competition on Thurs. 24/11 and Friday 25/11 (All-around)
Sunday, 27th Nov. - Apparatus Finals (M & W)
1 hour loop on CBBC from approximately 0900 (of Apparatus finals)
BBC-2 Sunday Grandstand 1335-1500 highlights of all Apparatus finals
Eurosport
Thursday 24/11/05 : 9.00 - 11.30 am (live)
Friday 25/11/05 : 10.45 - 12.30 am
Saturday 26/11/05 : 6.00 - 7.30 pm
Sunday 27/11/05 : 4.15 - 6.15 pm
Channel 7 (AUSTRALIA )
Thursday 24/11/05 : 8.30 - 10.30 pm (local time)
Friday 25/11/05 8.30 - 10.30 pm (local time)
Saturday 26/11/05 : 8.30 - 10.30 pm (local time)
Sunday 27/11/05 : 8.30 -10.30 pm (local time)
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7th November - CHINA ANNOUNCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM!
China have announced a 10-member squad for the 2005 World Gymnastics Championships in Melbourne, Australia. Olynpian’s Fan Ye and Cheng Fei will join Zhang Nan in a highly experienced Team and All Around standout Zhang Yufei completes a very strong Chinese team.
The men's team sprang some surprises when it was announced that Feng Jing who was the World Champion in 2001 and won the All Around at last week’s East Asian Games and Lu Bo who won the Chinese National Games last month, have both been left out of the Team. The 6 man team includes only two Olympians Li Xiaopeng and Xiao Qin. Liang Fuliang will compete in his second world championships, and Chen Yibing, Yan Mingyong and Zhang Hongtao are making their world’s debuts.
Chinese officials stated they are using the competition to test their less experienced gymnasts. Gao Jian, head of the Chinese Gymnastics Association told a packed press conference "Each team has gone through adaptation and reorganization after the Olympic Games and is more or less out of form. So the real competition will kick off next year, when the new rules are formally implemented."
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