Gymnastics Victoria receives Australian Sports Commission Play By the Rules Award

Gymnastics Victoria has welcomed the Australian Sports Commission’s recognition of its inclusive work providing pathway opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities and its partnership with Special Olympics Australia.

Awarded the Sports Commission’s Play By The Rules award at the Our Sporting Future Conference on the Gold Coast last week, Gymnastics Victoria’s Inclusion and Innovation Manager Kerry Tavrou advised “I am constantly amazed by the eagerness and commitment of the Gymnastics community to be inclusive champions.”

Recognising an initiative that has made a difference in sport to make it more inclusive, safe and fair, the Play by The Rules award recognised Gymnastics Victoria’s partnership that has created systemic inclusive change within gymnastics, highlighted by Special Olympics Gymnastics being included in the Men’s and Women’s Victorian Gymnastics Championships in June.

Tavrou, who was not only presented with the award but was also invited to speak as a panellist on the topic of Understanding the Sports Consumer at the Our Sporting Future Conference, expressed thanks to Special Olympics Australia and to the Gymnastics community.

She added “it’s through our community’s hard work that we have seen an increase in our participation of underrepresented groups from 400 participants in 2011 to over 11,000 today.”

As well as Gymnastics Victoria, the Australian Sports Commission also recognised Ski and Snowboard Australia for Excellence in Participation and Tennis Australia for Excellence in Innovation.

Australian Sports Commission Chief Executive Kate Palmer said it was important to recognise and reward sports for their efforts in growing participation through innovation, governance and inclusive strategies.

She explained “nothing could be more important than finding new ways to increase participation in community sport.

“I admire the ability of our sports to be innovative, delivering new products in fresh ways with the focus on their participants.” 

Image: The Sports Commission’s Play By The Rules award.

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