Professor John Robertson OBA

Scotland is the place to be for para-gymnastics, so here we are,” says Kathryn Sinnott of Hertfordshire.

Why?

From STV last night:

It is one of the most popular Olympic sports, but surprisingly, gymnastics is not part of the Paralympic programme. It wasn’t until last year that the gymnastics governing body, the FIG (Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) ), recognised para-gymnastics as an official discipline within the sport.

They have now set out ambitious plans for it to be included in time for the Brisbane Paralympic Games in 2032. One disability gymnastics team in Glasgow is leading the way to make ParalympicsGB a reality. Ten-year-old Millie Sinnott and her family have decided to uproot their lives and move more than 400 miles from Hertfordshire to South Ayrshire to be part of it.

The young para-gymnast dreams of winning a Paralympic gold medal, but because she was born with the limb disability symbrachydactyly, she currently cannot compete at an elite international level. She has joined the City of Glasgow Gymnastics club as it offers the only specialist para-gymnastic training in the UK.

https://www.itv.com/news/2025-11-07/why-is-gymnastics-not-a-paralympic-sport

BBC Scotland Glasgow & West is not covering the story but the Welwyn Hatfield Times has:

Thanks to Iain [Grandad] being Scottish, Millie is also now on the Scottish national para-gymnastics squad, which, just last month, travelled to Finland for a showcase to promote para-gymnastics. To pay for the trip, the family even climbed Ben Nevis, raising £5,000. According to Iain, the family “fell in love with the Ayrshire coast” and soon decided to make a permanent move to Prestwick in July this year.

Now, Millie goes to CoGGC for training twice a week, and is the youngest member of their competition squad. In addition, Iain has become a volunteer director of the club.

https://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/25592927.welwyn-garden-city-ayreshire—pursuing-paralympic-dream/

A one-off example of a better deal for the disabled in Scotland?

Nope.

Just today:

A new fund launched today offers £1.5 million in grants for projects designed to break down barriers and strengthen services that disabled people depend on.

The Improving Access Fund is a key part of the Scottish Government’s £3 million Disability Equality Plan. Jointly designed with Disabled People’s Organisations, the Fund will provide grants for projects that improve access to essential services and promote independent living, choice, and participation.

https://www.gov.scot/news/improving-access-fund-launched/

And:

New ‘kind’ SNP disability payment system in shocking contrast to DWP’s suicide-linked brutality

How Scotland’s disability benefits system has been kinder, remains affordable but is not apparently worthy of proper media coverage