Future of Top Gymnasts Uncertain as East London Centre Faces Closure

Justyna Kosinink’s 14-year-old daughter, Olivia, who aspires to join the Polish Olympic team for the Los Angeles Games, faces a significant obstacle due to the potential closure of the East London Gymnastics Centre (ELGC) in Beckton. Kosinink stated, “This place has been her second home since she was five. She spends 25 hours there every week after school and her coach is basically her second mother – it’s heartbreaking.” Established in 1997 with funding from Sport England and the National Lottery, the ELGC is an elite gymnastics facility known for training Olympians and actor Tom Holland. However, the charity operating the facility has received an eviction notice from the new site owners, requiring them to vacate the premises by the new year. The developers asserted that they had consistently informed the centre’s management about their plans, proposed alternative locations, and were actively seeking a resolution to maintain the club’s community function. The ELGC provides services to approximately 2,500 individuals each week, offering gymnastics, martial arts, and various community events. Additionally, it functions as a test centre for professional stunt performers. According to several parents of gymnasts training at the ELGC, who spoke to BBC London, the centre’s closure could impede their children’s potential advancement in the sport. Ana Metcan’s 10-year-old daughter, Mikayla, who has trained at the ELGC for six years, considers the gym her “second home.” Mikayla is pursuing elite competition with aspirations of joining Team GB. Ms. Metcan expressed concern that without the ELGC, her daughter’s “future [will be] at stake.” Ms. Metcan added, “They are the ones who have built her as an elite gymnast and she is in the national squad and competed for the London team in three finals.” Ms. Metcan, a Dagenham resident who, along with her husband, adjusted their employment to support their daughter’s 25 hours of weekly training, stated that the ELGC was the sole accessible facility offering coaching at the required level. She further noted that an equivalent facility in Basildon, Essex, is too distant for Mikayla to reach for training after school. Mikayla commented, “I’ve been working so hard for the last eight years and I can’t imagine having to stop because my family can’t accommodate the [longer] travel.” Dominic Brindle, an Olympian who represented Team GB at the 1996 Atlanta Games, indicated that his 10-year-old daughter, Aria, shares similar aspirations. Mr. Brindle, whose family commutes from Loughton, Essex, stated that the gym’s closure would impede her ambitions. He elaborated, “It’s a huge part of her life,” and mentioned that alternative facilities were unfeasible due to travel requirements and insufficient space for competitive training. He added, “It’s a huge commitment for her and us as a family but it’s something she’s very passionate about,” suggesting that the ELGC’s closure could be a “deal breaker” for her continued participation. Kirk Zammit, who directs the East London School of Gymnastics, Movement and Dance—the charity responsible for leasing and operating the ELGC—informed BBC London that the building’s freeholder sold it to the property development firm Linea Homes in 2020. Mr. Zammit recounted to BBC London that developers initially assured them of collaboration to address the gym’s specific requirements, stating, “They told us not to panic.” He reported that after a year and a half of meetings, communication diminished in early 2023, culminating in the gym receiving notice in June that its lease would terminate. Mr. Zammit clarified that Linea Homes had partnered with Galliard Homes, another property developer, to advance the project, and the ELGC management was subsequently informed that plans for a new gym were “no longer viable.” The operators are required to vacate the centre by 1 January. The developers’ intentions for the site remain undisclosed, and no plans have been submitted to Newham Council. This eviction has initiated a campaign by members, parents, and the broader Beckton community to prevent the ELGC’s closure, evidenced by an online petition garnering over 7,000 signatures. A spokesperson for Linea Homes stated their commitment to “retaining the building and ensuring its financial viability” by securing a new tenant who would provide “significant health and social benefits to the community.” They further added, “Since agreeing to purchase the site, we have kept the existing tenants informed of our plans. We remain committed to assisting the Gymnastics Centre with support where possible during this transition.” Mr. Zammit contested the developers’ assertions that he or his business partner had been consistently informed throughout the process. He also noted that the proposed rent-free facility was located outside Newham, specifically in Bromley, south-east London, and did not meet the standards required for an elite gymnastics facility. A spokesperson for Galliard Homes explained that the situation resulted from “the owner and ELGC’s management [signing] a tenancy agreement outside of the 1954 Act,” which permitted the issuance of a “vacant possession notice.” They claimed that ELGC management had been “aware of the current situation for some time” but had failed to make alternative arrangements. They also stated that Galliard was “committed to supporting ELGC” during the transition, having offered a rent-free space and other potential solutions to aid the club’s continued operations. Newham mayor Rokhsana Fiaz underscored the gym’s significance, mentioning that the council was evaluating an application to classify it as an Asset of Community Value. She further stated that the council’s Local Plan recognized the gym’s “sporting significance” and the necessity for its preservation. A spokesperson for Sport England also highlighted the importance of accessible facilities like the ELGC for local sports development, referring to ongoing discussions with the council and the gym’s management concerning its future.