Johannesburg Gymnastics Centre is open again but plays it very safe

Johannesburg Gymnastics Centre (JGC) is open again after a difficult lockdown period that saw the group ask for donations to keep its doors open.

A handstand challenge on the BackaBuddy website raised R80 000 for the centre before it got the all-clear to host lessons and start earning an income again.

Now, a screening process, temperature check and sanitising tunnel are just some of the things that await gymnasts and their parents as they enter the venue.”We are allowed 48 people here at a time but we decided to only have about 20 at a time,” explained head coach, Ilse Pelser.”When we had four-hour training sessions before the lockdown, we now have two, two-hour training sessions with our gymnasts split into two groups: One for each session.”Pelser explained that she and other staff sanitise all apparatus between these classes and every night they fog the room.

Furthermore, gymnasts must sanitise their hands after each workout and must bring their own chalk and elastic bands to use. Coaches, who have to wear face masks or shields at all times, also sanitise apparatus after each use and there are crosses marked out on the floor to designate social distances that must be kept.

As such, only one gymnast is allowed at an apparatus at a time.”It has been tough but we are glad to be open again,” Pelser added.”R100 000 [as a fundraising goal] was a bit ambitious but we did very well to reach R80 000. Other gymnastics centres have struggled more than us.”She said she was grateful to every member of the community who donated, and said the support of people who were former gymnasts at JGC played a large role in fundraising. The centre still appreciates any donations at this time, as salaries had to be cut to save jobs.

Details: Johannesburg Gymnastics Centre 083 634 6164.

Also read: JGC gets sanitising tunnel, asks for more donations