Everyone Active and double Olympic gold medallist, Max Whitlock, have launched a new initiative at Plymouth Life Centre to drive participation in gymnastics.
School children in Plymouth have become some of the first to benefit from the partnership between a local leisure provider and the Olympic star.
Max Whitlock attended the Plymouth Life Centre in June to celebrate the launch of his gymnastics scheme in Everyone Active centres across the country. He was joined by more than 100 children from Compton C of E Primary School and Montpelier Primary School who became some of the first to try out the new sessions.
Everyone Active and Max Whitlock Gymnastics have teamed up with the aim of offering more young people the opportunity to participate in gymnastics.
they have pledged to get one million children engaged in the sport by 2022
Together, they have pledged to get one million children engaged in the sport by 2022. This will be done through the delivery of Max Whitlock Gymnastics in more than 30 Everyone Active centres across the country, including the Plymouth Life Centre.
The sessions will give children the chance to develop and perfect their gymnastics skills as they take part in exciting activities set by Max and his elite coach wife, Leah, who has also been instrumental in the setup of the scheme.
At the event, Max treated the guests, who included representatives from Plymouth City Council, to a demonstration of his world-class skills before leading the children through an hour of activities.
He said:
“I am delighted to have teamed up with Everyone Active to ensure that more young people are given the opportunity to enjoy gymnastics. Training at an Everyone Active centre myself I know first hand that their brilliant facilities offer scope to get children all over the country benefitting from the gymnastics programme.”
David Greenwood, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said:
“We are delighted to have launched this partnership here at the Plymouth Life Centre. The partnership forms part of our major drive towards increasing sports participation and getting young people to benefit from being active at an early age.
“Diving is incredibly popular here in Plymouth, and the fundamental skills needed are very similar to those practised in gymnastics. Successful divers such as Tonia Couch began their career in the gymnastics hall, and I am confident that this partnership will help more young people progress across both disciplines.”
Deputy Council Leader Peter Smith said:
“It was great to welcome Max to the Plymouth Life Centre and showcase the great facilities we have on offer here. We’re very pleased to support initiatives like this, which encourage young people to try out new activities, develop their skills and stay active and healthy.”
The event was one of three launches to take place in Everyone Active centres across the country, with the other two being hosted in London and Sunderland.
The partnership between Max and Everyone Active came about as a result of his long-standing relationship with the leisure operator. He has trained at Everyone Active’s Basildon Sporting Village from a young age, and has also been heavily involved in the Everyone Active Sporting Champions scheme, a support programme for talented athletes, for the past three years.
For more information, visit www.everyoneactive.com/MaxWhitlockGymnastics
