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Europa faces closure due to rent increases

The gym which has produced one of London's brightest 2012 hopefuls is facing closure.

  • By Ruth Bloomfield and Matthew Beard, Evening Standard
  • Published: 23:47 January 9, 2009
  • Gulf News

London: The gym which has produced one of London's brightest 2012 hopefuls is facing closure.

Zoe Smith, 14, who was named Athlete of the Year in her sport of weightlifting by the British Olympic Association, trains at the Europa club in Erith, south-east London. But the unfunded club faces an uncertain future after its rent almost doubled last summer.

The Europa is home to a host of top gymnasts, boxers and martial artists, with about 1,400 members. It has been running for more than 16 years and has produced Olympic hopefuls in gymnastics, weightlifting and boxing. The gym's rent increased from £30,000 (Dh166,747) to £55,000 (Dh305,704) a year after the site was taken over by a new landlord, which says it will rise again in 2010 to £75,000 ((Dh416,868).

Europa founder Len Arnold said that only fund-raising efforts by parents had kept them afloat. "I certainly cannot put my hand on my heart and say that we will still be going in 2012, which puts people like Zoe in a really difficult situation."

Zoe, of Abbey Wood, said: "It would be a disaster if we lose Europa."

The demise of the club would be embarrassing for UK gymnastics which has been enjoying a renaissance. This summer Louis Smith won a pommel horse bronze medal, British gymnastics' first Olympic medal for 100 years.

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