Glasgow have pledged to take the European Gymnastics Championships to the next level as the city signed the formal agreement to stage the event as part of the inaugural 2018 European Championships.
The Host City Agreement (HCA) with the European Union of Gymnastics (UEG) guarantees to deliver an event that elevates the status of European gymnasts when they come to the city in August 2018 to take part in the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
The HCA was signed at a UEG Executive Committee meeting in Lausanne last weekend and reaffirms all partners’ commitment to delivering a world-class event in 2018. It details all aspects of the delivery of the 33rd Men’s and 32nd Women’s European Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
The events will be staged at the £130million SSE Hydro – the same venue that hosted the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships and the gymnastics competitions at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Glasgow has a longstanding relationship with gymnastics having hosted its first Grand Prix event in 1997 at the famous Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena. Last year the city hosted a World Gymnastics Championships that was credited with setting a new standard for the sport. Around 80,000 spectators watched the event, which attracted a record 594 gymnasts from 87 nations.
Georges Guelzec, President of the UEG, said:
Several times before Glasgow has shown their organisational skills. I am delighted that European Gymnastics will benefit from the experience and enthusiasm of Glasgow as a host city and of their commitment to sport in general, and gymnastics specifically
Glasgow 2018 Championships Director, Colin Hartley, said:
We showed the world what we were capable of during the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships and we are determined to build on that success in 2018 with an event that elevates the status of European champions and takes the event to the next level. We set the bar high and we will do all we can to ensure that the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships continues the proud traditions of the sport
The European Championships is being staged for the first time in 2018 in a partnership between the Host Cities of Glasgow and Berlin. This sporting partnership will create a new event on the world stage every four years elevating the status of European Champions and attracting a potential television audience of 1.03 billion with a wider audience via digital platforms.
As part of the inaugural European Championships around 3,025 athletes will visit Scotland for six events (aquatics, cycling, golf, gymnastics, rowing and triathlon) while a further 1,500 athletes will compete in Berlin as part of the European Athletics Championships.
The event will build on Glasgow and Scotland’s track record of hosting major international events including the 2014 Commonwealth Games, 2014 Ryder Cup and 2015 World Gymnastics Championships.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Egan, Glasgow 2018, 0141 287 3565 / 07445 293 488 john.egan@glasgow.gov.uk
Tina Gerets, UEG, +41791027903, tgerets@UEG.org
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
1. The 2018 European Championships will be staged by the European Federations and the Host Cities of Glasgow and Berlin.
2. The Glasgow 2018 event will be held between 1st and 12th August and the European Athletics Championships will be between 7th and 12th August in Berlin.
3. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the umbrella body for Europe free-to-air channels, will be the broadcast partner for the Championships. There is a potential television audience of around 1.03 billion for the event with many more viewers across multiple digital platforms.
4. Around 3025 athletes will travel to Scotland as part of a total delegation of around 8500 including officials, media and others. A further 1500 athletes will compete in Berlin.
5. The European Aquatic Championships will take place at Glasgow's Tollcross International Swimming Centre, with diving and synchronised swimming taking place at Edinburgh's Royal Commonwealth Pool and open water swimming being staged at Loch Lomond.
6. Four European Cycling Championships will be staged in Glasgow. Track, Road, Mountain Bike and BMX will attract 650 of Europe’s top names to the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, the Cathkin Braes Mountain Bike Trails, the streets of Glasgow and a new world championship and Olympic standard BMX track to be built in the Knightswood area of the city.
7. The European Golf Team Championships will take place at the Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course in Perth & Kinross.
8. The European Artistic Gymnastics Men’s and Women’s Championships will be staged at The SSE Hydro, the venue for the 2015 FIG World Gymnastics Championships.
9. The European Championships for both Rowing and Triathlon will both be staged at Strathclyde Country Park in North Lanarkshire.
10. Berlin's Olympic Stadium will be the venue for the European Athletics Championships with the road races and race walking events held throughout the city.