From Tom Verdon.
PHIL Austin may well be giving himself a big pat on the back for a job not yet well done. He and his colleagues, on the Island Games Bid Team, may well feel that in their selection of sports to put forward for 2015 they have done Jersey proud.

They have not, for in their omission of gymnastics they have failed us and, more importantly, our youth, miserably.

Let’s put our hands together long and loud, however, for the gracious and sportsmanlike action of the Bowls Committee, who did not put their sport forward for inclusion on the grounds that: ‘We have enough international competition already’. Lucky them!

Almost without compare, gymnastics in Jersey is a grass roots sport. It takes six to ten years to develop and hone a gymnast. You don’t see many six, seven or eight year olds pistol shooting, cycling or playing golf.

If we don’t want our children to be obese, if we want them to learn to mix, be disciplined and get an excellent base fitness for all of the sports on Mr Austin’s list, then you have to include gymnastics.

The selection of the sports on the Island Games list for Jersey, therefore, should not be about what is good for the other islands, although of course that wins votes. It should be about what is good for Jersey and what inspires Jersey children to reach their full potential.

Our young gymnasts, without basic performance facilities such as vault pits, are already denied the chance to dream of Commonwealth or Olympic participation. Our cyclists, shooters, archers, athletes and swimmers can all do that. Make no mistake, Jersey has the coaches and the gymnasts who, given the opportunity, could one day perform at that level.

Now, however, thanks to Mr Austin and his team, the Island Games, which was a hitherto attainable goal and a tremendous inspiration for numerous small girls and boys on the Island, has also seemingly been kicked out of their reach. Who knows, perhaps Gotland will win and, with any luck, gymnastics will be on their list.
57 Don Farm, Route des Quennevais, St Brelade.