When organizers of the Atlantis Crown Gymnastics Invitational, Al and Cindy Scharns, first hosted the annual event five years ago, the competition started out with just 300 athletes, and only featured female gymnasts. Now, it has transformed into the largest gymnastics event in the Caribbean, with just over 850 athletes competing at this year's event inside the Imperial Ballroom of the Atlantis Resort. Aside from the athletes, the invitational attracts hundreds of tourists to the shores of The Bahamas annually.
At a recent press event, Cindy Scharns said that even with all of the invitational's recent success, she expects the event to gain a lot of traction over the next three years, due in large part to the addition of a male division and spring trampoline and tumbling events. Scharns confirmed that they've signed a contract to bring the event to The Bahamas through 2020.
"This year we've had 100 percent growth and we anticipate that we'll have additional growth through the remaining five years," she said.
"Adding the additional events will help it to grow exponentially. We don't feel that the numbers right now, which stand at 870, will remain the largest turnout for too long. Next year we anticipate having 1,100 to 1,200 kids participating, and I think that's being somewhat conservative.
"I would say we've been averaging at least 200 new athletes per year, and if we do that for the next few years, that would add up to a couple thousand athletes in the next five years. This continues to grow due to good partnerships. Partnerships with the federation (Gymnastics Federation of The Bahamas), with the people on the ground here, and with Atlantis, that provides the kids with so many opportunities when they get here."
Approximately 95 Bahamian gymnasts, male and female, were expected to be a part of the 870 registered competitors this year, compared to just 30 in its inaugural edition. Local athletes from Nassau 'Nastics, Bahamas Star Gymnastics and the BDT Flyers all took part in the event.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
