Last week, the Board of Gymnastics New Zealand (GNZ) reassessed the viability of holding the Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships, scheduled for April 2021. As a result of these deliberations, we have regretfully made the difficult decision to withdraw from hosting the competition.

Due to the domestic and global uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Board has recognised the impracticality of it moving ahead as scheduled. Complications of potential border restrictions, coupled with the implications of quarantine and isolation requirements on performance, make it untenable to host the competition.

In addition, we have considered that significant additional resource would need to be in operation from now, should the competition be going ahead. This resource is currently focussed on returning the gymnastics community to pre-Covid-19 levels of activity, along with facilitating the reviews that are currently underway into the sport.

Our decision is in line with many others made around the globe regarding the hosting of events. Most notably in NZ with the cancellation of the Women’s Cricket World Cup, which was also set to take place in early 2021 (though now set to take place in 2022).

We wish to thank you and our community for your continued support throughout the event process. We hope that you will understand our difficult decision to withdraw from hosting the competition, due to these uncertain and unprecedented times.

Regards,

Tony Compier
Chief Executive
Gymnastics New Zealand