alt SEBASTIAN COE, the chairman of London 2012, was on hand today to witness Birmingham City Council and British Gymnastics sign a new deal to raise standards of the sport there.

 

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) seeks to develop the sport of gymnastics in the city, with the aim of raising standards and further improving the sport in Birmingham.

 

The city is looking to cement its position as one of the UK’s leading lights in the sport by becoming a City of Excellence for Gymnastics.

 

Birmingham City Council and British Gymnastics have worked together closely in recent years, jointly staging the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup Final at the National Indoor Arena (NIA) in 2004, the UEG Congress in 2005 and the FIG Trampoline and Tumbling World Cup Final at the NIA in 2006.

 

This partnership is set to continue in the run up to London 2012, with the organisations currently working together to organise the UEG European Individual and Team Championships for Artistic Gymnastics in 2010 and the FIG World Championships in Trampoline, Tumbling and Double-Minii-Trampoline in 2011.

 

Ray Hassall, Birmingham's Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture, who signed the agreement on behalf of Birmingham City Council said: “This Memorandum of Understanding, whilst acknowledging the close working relationship we have with British Gymnastics on international gymnastics events, will also encourage greater co-operation at the grassroots of the sport and help raise standards amongst young gymnasts and coaches across the                  Birmingham area.”

 

Brian Stocks, the chief executive of British Gymnastics said: “Signing the Memorandum of Understanding is another significant moment in the long and successful history that British Gymnastics has shared with the City of Birmingham.

 

"The GMAC provides superb facilities, not only for the people of Birmingham, but also for the greater gymnastics community, and will no doubt be of huge benefit to the elite British Gymnasts as we all stride confidently  ahead towards London 2012."

 

The new £7.5 million Gymnastics and Martial Arts Centre (GMAC), which was officially opened in September, has been built to Olympic specifications and has already been included in the London 2012 pre-Games training camp guide.