Virtual AGM 2020 - Reflecting on extreme highs & bitter lows...

Gymnastics Ireland hosted the 2020 Annual General Meeting virtually on Sunday 1st November 2020, 5 months after the original planned meeting date which was cancelled due the first to Covid19 lockdown.

In order to securely manage the virtual AGM GI contracted in Globibo, a Singapore based virtual event company who operate an online meeting platform and provided an excellent AGM experience for GI members from a technical standpoint. This included issuing attendee login details, technical support for members prior to and during the AGM in addition an integrated online voting/polling system plus resultant reports for legal record of same.

GI Chairman, Shane O'Connor, & CEO, Ciaran Gallagher, paid tribute to the resilience of the GI club network. They also pledged ongoing support to ensure gymnastics will emerge on the other side of Covid19 ready to get back on track with the sports impressive growth trajectory of recent years.

The reporting to the members at the meeting covered the period from the previous AGM in July 2019 through to October 2020, straddling 2 very different stories...

2019

• A year of record membership growth (35k direct fee-paying members)
• A commercial club network valued at circa €30 million in a normal trading year
• Record gymnast and spectator attendance at national events (9000+ gymnasts & 16,000+ spectators)
• 20% increase in GI turnover, majority of which being driven by commercial member revenues
• National award-winning programmes
• Rhys McClenaghan securing Ireland's first World Championships medal plus Tokyo 2020 qualification
• New GI Chair Shane O'Connor (also OFI Athletes Commission Chair) leading a new Board to continue the good governance journey driven previously by former Chair Ger Rellis

2020

• Devastating impact of Covid19 on the GI club based commercial model...
  • 40% drop in GI/club membership due to lockdown and 50 persons limit for indoor activity (circa 23k members as of Nov 2020)
  • Estimated €10 million loss in revenue to GI club network against original 2020 projections
  • €1.5million in commercial member revenues wiped off GI against original 2020 budget
• National events and programmes largely cancelled to year-end (exception for virtual activities)
• International competition calendar largely cancelled including 2020 Olympic Games postponed to 2021

While 2020 has proven incredibly difficult for GI and the wider sports sector it was recognised that much good work has continued in 2020, with examples given as follows...

• Development & rolled-out the government approved GI Return to Sport Plan with club support for same continuing on a daily/weekly basis
• Submission of large application to the Sport Ireland Resilience Fund covering club and NGB needs
• Gaining inclusion for ‘Facility Operator’ clubs to remain open in Level 3 of government 'Resilience & Recovery Plan'
• Continued & ongoing involvement in lobbying & media engagement activities to represent the interests of GI members to government & the wider general-public
• GI involvement in global FIG initiatives re ensuring positive performance culture for the sport of gymnastics
• Development of new virtual member services/initiatives preparing for roll-out in 2021
• New strategies/plans due to launch by year-end 2020/Q1 2021...
  • Strategic Plan 2021-2024
  • High Performance Strategy Paris 2024 & LA 2028
  • Education & Participation Strategy 2021-2024

As part of the business of the AGM the Board tabled a proposal/resolution to change the voting system for general meetings from an individual member-based system to a club delegate-based system whereby club voting is weighted according to the size of the club with 1 vote given for every 100 members. This resolution was passed with a 96% majority.

To download a full copy of the 2020 GI AGM presentation click here...