Meadowbank scheme 'will cripple gymnastics'

THE future of gymnastics in Edinburgh faces being "crippled" by plans to demolish and rebuild Meadowbank Stadium, it was claimed today.

Hundreds of children and adults train at the dilapidated stadium, but fears have been raised that a prolonged period of closure will see the popularity of the sport wane. It is also unclear what provision for gymnastics there will be at the new £25 million centre.

Edinburgh University researcher Stephan Eisenhardt, whose seven-year-old daughter Celina practices at Meadowbank, has written to councillors warning an interruption to provision will be "crippling" to the sport.

He said: "In a sport like gymnastics, where the continuous development of skills is everything, a break of two to three years will throw the athletes far back.

"It is predictable that the rate of athletes picking the sport back up after such a break will be negligible."

Local Labour councillor Ewan Aitken added: "We will continue to oppose any proposal that downgrades the quality and quantity of sporting opportunities in the city."

But a city council spokesman said: "No decisions have been taken yet on the full range of facilities at the new, modern Meadowbank."