UK gymnasts blame schedule for dropout

Britain’s top gymnasts will not be available for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi next year, since they will be taking part in the World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam in October.

"As with all Olympic sports, the priority for British Gymnastics over the next 36 months, will be to qualify for and compete with distinction at the 2012 Olympic Games. The qualification for this begins at the 2010 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Rotterdam," Tim Jones, who is Olympic performance director, said.

The Rotterdam championship is scheduled from October 17 next year. "This does result in logistical issues as they are scheduled in extremely close proximity to the Commonwealth Games," Jones added.

British Gymnastics’ performance director Eddie van Hoof had raised concerns about some health issues as well. "It’s not just the travel and jet lag but the potential for tummy bugs and diarrhoea that exists in making the trip. We just cannot afford to take the risk when so much is at stake," he told the Daily Telegraph.

However, BG on Thursday played down that angle and said it would try its best to send a strong team for the Commonwealth Games. But with the top gymnasts busy with Rotterdam preparations, it remains to be seen how they handle the issue.

"British Gymnastics will be looking to ensure that our long-term goals of success in London will not be compromised, whilst at the same time ensuring that the home nations will be in a position to send strong teams to compete at the Commonwealth Games," Jones said on Thursday.