Former Commonwealth champion Dan Purvis, now a gymnastics coach across Southport and Sefton, is counting down the days until the World Gymnastics Championships get underway in Liverpool – and has lauded the city as a special place for the sport.
Part of the historic Team GB team that took bronze in the 2012 London Olympics, Purvis began coaching following his retirement from the sport in 2017, his primary focus helping more young people to enjoy the sport.
And the 31-year-old will be hard at work delivering gymnastics sessions in the Fan Zone during the competition. He said: “I get so much joy out of coaching so when I was asked to be involved, it was a no brainer. It’s going to be a fantastic experience for myself and my coaches and I can’t wait to show people the joys of the sport – from those trying it for the first time all the way through to experienced gymnasts.”
The Fan Zone will be hosted in the Exhibition Centre Liverpool (Hall A) at the M&S Bank Arena for the duration of the Championships. It will be open to both ticket holders and non-ticket holders alike, welcoming fans into the world of gymnastics and providing a social, fun space for both gymnastics’ enthusiasts and the general public.
It will be open each day, hosting a variety of free have-a-go activities, from gymnastics to tai chi, drumming, street theatre, arts and crafts workshops and an interactive digital wall and podium. There will be the opportunity to see the Championship medals up close and Liverpool International Music Festival Academy artists will also be performing throughout the nine days.
As well as fun, interactive sponsor activations, the Fan Zone will see current and former British gymnasts, including Purvis and Commonwealth gold medallist Claudia Fragapane, taking part in activity sessions, Q&As and meet-and-greets with fans each day. Gymnastics clubs from across Merseyside, will also lead sessions and perform routines.
It's something Purvis is relishing.
He said: It’s going to be an absolutely amazing atmosphere in Liverpool and I can’t wait to lead the Rise Gymnastics sessions – a new recreational gymnastics programme from British Gymnastics. The coaches and kids at my club have responded so well to the programme so I want to showcase it to as many people as possible.
“I’m also really looking forward to meeting youngsters in the Fan Zone. I know I would have loved that as a young boy and it’s truly a pleasure to speak to aspiring gymnasts and help inspire them to go on to be whatever they want to be.”
Purvis knows all too well how it feels to be inspired by major competitions, and fully expects the World Championships to have the same effect – his own pathway to gymnastics stardom really took off after watching Britain’s best as a young boy:
“When I was about seven at the Manchester Commonwealth Games, I saw the British gymnasts on TV - they were my idols at the time, to see them do such high-level gymnastics that I had never seen before, it just inspired me so much to go back into the gym that evening and try out these new skills.
“It took me years and years and years to master them, but in that moment, I was so inspired by watching and I think that really pushed me on in my career. And that's why major competitions, especially home competitions can do so much to inspire the next generation.”
The World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022 will be one of the largest international sporting events ever to be held in the city. 550 gymnasts from 75 countries will compete at the M&S Bank Arena from 29 October to 6 November 2022. Tickets start at £10 and are available at www.2022worldgymnastics.com/tickets.
