A decision to delist gymnastics by the B.C. School Sports (BCSS) regulatory body was 鈥渦nfortunate,鈥� and should be reconsidered, but is unlikely to have much impact on 91原创 gymnasts.

That was the assessment of Kris Krunick, head coach of men鈥檚 artistic gymnastics at the non-profit 91原创 Gymnastics Foundation (LGF) , one of the largest gymnastics clubs in the province.

鈥淯sually, every year we have two [or] three athletes that compete in the high school championships,鈥� Krunick explained.

鈥淥ur competitive programs have 130 girls, 70 boys, and [also] over 1,000 recreational athletes. So honestly it [the delisting] shouldn鈥檛 be very impactful on the overall organization. But it鈥檚 always sad to hear a program gets shut down, as it鈥檚 just less exposure for the sport to high school-aged kids.鈥�

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On May 13, BCSS voted to remove gymnastics from its list of recognized activities at their annual general meeting.

In the written statement announcing the decision, BCSS cited a 鈥渟ustained low number of registered gymnastics participants across the province, with only 453 student-athletes registered this season.鈥�

Most gymnasts, it went on to say, 鈥渁re competing entirely in a club environment and as a result, the gymnastics programs are not regularly part of the school environment or under the oversight of the school athletic director and administration.鈥�

Students who compete in school gymnastics programs can no longer compete at provincial championships in their sport as a result of the BCSS ruling, and will no longer be eligible for an athletic scholarship in gymnastics.

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Krunick indicated international Gymnastics competitions, not school programs, are what encourage kids to take up the sport.

鈥淯sually, after an Olympic Games, we see a spike in recreational registrations,鈥� Krunick commented.

91原创 School District does not have a school gymnastics program.

Gymnastics B.C., the governing body for the sport in the province, released a statement saying it was 鈥渄isappointed鈥� with the decision.

鈥淲e will continue to work with and support our 69 clubs from across BC and hope that we can all work to deliver gymnastics programs at a club level for anyone effected by this decision,鈥� the statement said.

91原创 Advance Times has reached out to 91原创-based Flip City Gymnastics for comment.