I postulate that totalitarian States like China will increasingly see entrepreneurs opening for profit gymnastics clubs.
Chinese Gymnastics Blog in 2010 estimated 10,000 girls training Artistic gymnastics:
… In contrast, there are 5.2 million (76% female) 6 year and older gymnastics participants in the States according to the statistics published on USA gymnastics website.
… fewer and fewer families are willing to send their daughters to train for sports when these young girls could study computers or play piano instead. The number of kids training for gymnastics is even considerable less than many other sports, like table tennis and badminton, which also operate under the same “whole country” regime …
On the potential solutions to the unpopularity of the sports, … the idea of “happy gymnastics” training method. Li Ning , the former champions and one of most successful athlete-turned entrepreneur in China, is undoubtedly the pioneer in promoting “happy gymnastic”. Li Ning built two private gymnastics schools in Guandong province, which are different from the state-funded sports school. Recently Li Ning is planning to take over another successful gymnastics-oriented elementary school in Shanghai and convert it to Li Ning Gymnastics school No. 3.
All those efforts, along with other attempts to build club-style gymnastics system (like the one in the States), will help Chinese gymnastics to establish a more diversified training system. …
I couldn’t quickly find a link to Li Ning’s clubs. Leave a comment if you’ve seen them online.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 