To mark the eighth anniversary of Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week (September 30-October 6), Scottish Government Ministers have been visiting the projects across the country which are working to encourage more women and girls to take part in sport and physical activity.
This year the campaign focuses on leadership, celebrating the strong leaders and role models who motivate and inspire others to take part in sport and physical activity as well as remove barriers which discourage women and girls from participating.
The Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Health, Neil Gray, visited the City of Edinburgh Gymnastics Club on Wednesday 2nd October, meeting young female leaders and participants in gymnastics and seeing some of the gymnasts in action.
Scottish Gymnastics provide fantastic opportunities to participate and develop young leaders at gymnastics clubs across the country.
The governing body has a vision of providing an uplifting gymnastics experience for all. It lives by the shared values of inclusive, supportive and aspirational to ensure that gymnastics is enjoyable, safe and open to everyone.
Local clubs like the City of Edinburgh Gymnastics club provide development opportunities in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics beyond recreational gymnastics for those who have the ability to progress to a higher level.
Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Health, Neil Gray said: “I was pleased to visit City of Edinburgh Gymnastics Club as part of Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week to hear how they support and develop their gymnasts to become young leaders.
With the largest female membership of any governing body in Scotland, Scottish Gymnastics create fantastic opportunities for their members to be involved in the sport, at all ages and participation levels.”
Scottish Gymnastics CEO Doc McKelvey said: "Gymnastics is a foundation sport which creates the platform for lifelong participation in sport and physical activity. With Scotland's largest female membership, we are proud of the role we play in introducing and supporting women and girls in their sporting life.
Gymnastics has strong female leaders and role models of all ages doing amazing work in clubs across the country to provide an uplifting gymnastics experience for all.
City of Edinburgh Gymnastics Club is a great example of this. From their coaching team and young people who have completed the Scottish Gymnastics leadership award, to members with key roles in the wider community, including leading the women’s artistic technical committee.”
Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week aims to reach as many women and girls across Scotland as possible. The campaign is designed to show women that whatever their age, location or life stage, there is a sport or physical activity that’s right for them. The hope is to reach as many women and girls as possible to help boost their physical, mental and social health which all comes from being active.
The week also provides an opportunity to promote the visibility and participation of women and girls as role models in sport and physical activity to help break down barriers and inspire women and girls to be active.
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said: “Sport makes a huge impact on people and communities across Scotland every day, and sportscotland’s aim is to help make sport accessible to all.
Women and Girls in Sport Week is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the great work being delivered across the sporting system to encourage more women and girls to become physically active.
There are so many inspirational role models working to create opportunities for women and girls to follow their own sporting journey, it is important that those people and the projects they contribute to are recognised and this campaign gives us a great opportunity to do that.
