Johannesburg Gymnastics Centre faces closure, asks for funding

Johannesburg Gymnastics Centre (JGC) has struggled financially since the nationwide lockdown and only handstands can save the centre from closing its doors at the end of April.

The Newlands-based centre has formed a handstand challenge campaign on the backabuddy website, which allows gymnasts, or ordinary people, to get sponsored for doing handstands with the aim to raise enough funds to keep the centre open.

As of 7 April, the campaign has raised nearly R27 000 towards its target of R100 000.

“We are busy with online lessons and we are busier than ever,” said the centre’s owner and head coach, Ilse Pelser.

“But we are in dire need of funds otherwise we have to close our doors at the end of the month. So many parents have lost their jobs [since the lockdown] and have pulled their children out of gymnastics, so we are in scary times. The funds raised will go towards property maintenance, salaries for 17 coaches and eight general staff for the next three months, rental and municipal account payments for the next three months, and to subsidise fees for parents who have lost their income due to the lockdown.

Any additional funds will go to the centre’s international training fund, to help gymnasts who can’t afford travel and accommodation to international gymnastics events.

This includes Caitlin Rooskrantz, who qualified to compete on vault, beam and floor at the Tokyo Olympics, which have since been postponed to next year.

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