British Gymnastics

Gymnastics had been adopted in this country, having been invented in Germany by Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, to improve the health and fitness of its soldiers.

In the late 1800s gymnastics became popular for men thanks to the Army Physical Training Corps which was formed in 1860.

After this time the Swedish form of gymnastics became more popular, a more artistic version developed by Pehr Henrik Ling which was for men and women, and needed little apparatus.

He developed the BAGA Awards, a proficiency scheme for young gymnasts, which was adopted by seventy other countries.

In 1979 the Sports Council had built a gym at Lilleshall, equipped to international standards in 1980, with the Queen Elizabeth Hall.