Not to condone it, but there is a huge difference between those countries and that of the OP. Gymnastics there is considered a national sport so some parents may understandably think that it's worth the investment. In perspective, other people around the globe have their children do things that are far far worse just to show and defend their national pride.we take our kids away from their parents at age 3 (like some countries do...) and make them live, sleep, eat breathe gymnastics so that once they are used up they can't do anything else?