‘I can change the face of this sport’: Barry Hearn reveals failed investment that he regrets the most
BARRY HEARN revealed his failed bid to bring gymnastics to the mainstream was his most heartbreaking investment.
Hearn, 76, has taken darts, snooker, boxing, pool and tenpin bowling to new heights.
And the Matchroom Sport president tried to do the same with gymnastics in 2016 but only managed to promote one event.
The famous promoter claims the project, which he was very passionate about, never succeeded because of outside interference.
Hearn told The Mirror: “I wanted to take over gymnastics, because I think that sport is so brilliant.
“I tried two events, but then I bumped into – which I bump into quite a lot – a load of blazers [people in suits].
“When I went into gymnastics, I did a fantastic first event. Then I thought, ‘I can really change the face of this sport’.
“And then I just got knocked back [by the governing bodies], because they wanted to keep it to themselves!
“I’ve had that with various blazers in various amateur bodies, and it’s very frustrating. I don’t have the time to mess about. I know what I’m doing. I’ve got a reputation built over 50 years.
“I can change sports, and I can change people’s lives, but I need everyone to pull together – and so often in sport, they don’t because they’re selfish with their own positions.
“The people that love their sport but have no real interest in the athletes themselves. And we come from completely different directions. We try and change their lives through money.
“I love watching the Olympics, and you should be very proud if you’ve won a medal at the Olympics – but you can’t eat a medal!
“We are one of only three countries in the world that don’t pay a bonus for a gold medal, and I find that atrocious. Great Britain – that ‘G’ is looking smaller and smaller. So we need to look after athletes.”