Gym could close for lack of funds

The gym caters for 1,300 children in the local community

A sports club located near the gymnastics venue for the 2012 Games could be forced to close as it is unable to keep up with the rent.

About 1,300 children from the community use Europa Gym in Erith, south-east London, which provides facilities for weightlifting, gymnastics and boxing.

Proprietors Len and Yvonne Arnold said they had been unsuccessful in securing Sport England funding.

But the agency said it had no record of the couple's application.

Since the building was bought by a real estate company, the couple said rent had increased by £25,000, and now stands at £55,000-a-year.

'Lack of investment'

Len Arnold, 53, said: "I have not got any malice against our landlords. They are business people that's what they are in the business for.

"Financially the club's struggling, but there just doesn't seem to be any mechanism to help out clubs like ourselves."

Yvonne Arnold, 55, said: "We couldn't fund the house and fund the gym so we sold the house and actually moved into the gym's small flat and obviously that's cut cost tremendously."

Mr Arnold said he had applied for funding from Sport England through London gymnastic development offices, but without success.

A spokesman for Sport England they had no record of the gym's appeal adding that the gym had to fulfil its criteria to qualify for funding.

Yvonne and Len Arnold said they now live in the gym's flat

He said: "We are currently working closely with British Gymnastics on a detailed plan setting out its priorities for the sport, which will form the basis of our funding to the governing body between 2009 and 2013.

"We encourage clubs to discuss their needs with their national governing body in the first instance."

A statement from British Gymnastics said: "Sport England have had no role as of yet in this matter and will only become involved if and when Europa, through consultation with British Gymnastics, decide that they would like to investigate the possibility for financial assistance".

Brian Stocks, head of British Gymnastics, said: "You'd think gyms like those Yvonne and Len run would get help.

"It's atrocious and appalling - they're experienced coaches, but there's a serious lack of investment."