The Orkney 2025 International Island Games has not only put the islands on the global sporting map but has also been the catalyst for the creation of the Orkney Gymnastics Club.
Inspired by Orkney’s selection as the host of the 2025 Games, the club was established in 2017, transforming the local gymnastics scene. With a boost of £78,600 in funding from both sportscotland and Orkney Islands Council Community Development Fund to equip the club with state-of-the-art equipment, it is now gearing up to welcome and compete against athletes from across the globe at next year’s highly anticipated event.
Before the club's formation, gymnastics in Orkney was limited to recreational sessions run by the local leisure centre, Picky. The Island Games has provided the platform to elevate the sport across Orkney and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
In preparation for the 2025 games, the club recently purchased brand new women’s artistic equipment to help further train and develop the gymnasts taking part. This has given the gymnasts the opportunity to train and practice on a full-sized sprung floor, something they previously had to travel south to use.
With the Games on the horizon, the Head Coach, Jocelyn Tulloch, took the opportunity to put together a committee, which resulted in the gymnastics club being born, with the aim of ultimately producing four-piece competitive gymnasts who would be able to compete in the games.
Starting with 30 competitive two-piece gymnasts in 2017, by 2019 the club had doubled to around 60 gymnasts who continued to train twice per week. Making use of local centres and schools, the gymnastic club finally got their own rented premises in 2020, at the same time as taking over the recreational programme from Picky, which increased club membership to around 280 members.
The club has recently started weekend classes including an Additional Support Needs class and increased their competitive squad to around 70 gymnasts, so are currently training over 300 gymnasts every week. Orkney Gymnastics Club has provided not only a variety of training pathways to suit all ages and abilities but has provided opportunities to develop members' coaching, which has also been supported by funding from sportscotland and Orkney Islands Council.
Elspeth McLellan Club Manager and Treasurer at Orkney Gymnastics Club said:
“We are delighted to see the Island Games coming to Orkney this year and preparations are underway for all our talented gymnasts.
“The Island Games have not only given our gymnasts the opportunity to compete but have also given us an opportunity to further develop our facilities, coaching capacity and expand the club even further. We are very grateful to sportscotland and Orkney Islands Council Community Development Fund for their invaluable support in assisting us to get here.
“At Orkney Gymnastics Club, we want to encourage potential gymnasts, whether that is recreational or competitive. We would love boys and potential boys coaches to be inspired by the Games so we can develop Men’s Artistic competitive gymnasts into the future.”
Kirsty Talbot Games Director at Orkney Island Games said:
“It’s great to see the expansion and evolution of the Orkney Gymnastics Club and we admire their dedication and commitment to the sport.
“The Island Games will give the competitive gymnasts an opportunity to show off their amazing gymnastic skills whilst competing for their very own Island. With the games fast approaching, we are thrilled to hear the positive impact and benefits the games have brought to the club and look forward to seeing their expansion post Island Games.”
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said:
“It is fantastic to see preparations for the Orkney 2025 International Island Games ramp up and to see investment at Orkney Gymnastics Club already improving sporting opportunities in the area.
“Orkney 2025 will be a historic occasion and a wonderful chance for local athletes to compete at a home multi-sport event. The associated improvements to sporting infrastructure will be of huge value to the local community for many years.
“Clubs like Orkney Gymnastics Club don’t just create opportunities for people to take part in sport and physical activity, they also provide a place for communities to come together.”
Conducting a rigorous pathway to determine their Island Games Long Squad members, preparations are already underway for the junior teams for future games.
The Orkney 2025 Island Games are set to take place between the 12th-18th of July and will have the privilege of hosting the 20th international Island Games in its 40th year. The Games welcome attendees and competitors from all 24 island groups.
For more information on the Orkney 2025 Island Games, please visit: https://www.orkney2025.com
For all media enquiries please contact Muckle Media on orkney2025@mucklemedia.co.uk
Orkney 2025 International Island Games is principally funded by Orkney Islands Council Welcome to Orkney Islands Council and the Scottish Government.
Orkney 2025 International Island Games will bring together athletes from the 24
islands groups to compete in 12 Sports: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Cycling, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Lawn Bowls, Sailing, Squash, Swimming and Triathlon.