European Union of Gymnastics extend broadcast partnership

The European Union of Gymnastics has extended its agreement with the European Broadcasting Union ©UEG

The European Union of Gymnastics (UEG) has extended its partnership with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for a further four years, it has been announced today.

The agreement will see Eurovision, the operational arm of the EBU, sponsor all 10 men's and women's European Artistic and Rhythmic Championships which are due to take place before 2020.

Eurovision will also be the exclusive provider of coverage of the UEG’s events for worldwide distribution during the period of the extension, which runs from 2017 to 2020.

The deal, which covers media rights on all platforms such as radio, television and digital, includes coverage of the 2018 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships, due to be staged as part of the inaugural European Sports Championship.

Every sport except athletics at the first-ever edition of the competition, which will be staged in German capital Berlin, will be hosted by Glasgow and it is hoped the newly-formed event will create a strong new brand on the world stage and will increase television audiences and sponsorship opportunities.

“We are delighted with the renewal of this contract,” UEG President Georges Guelzec said.

“It highlights the trust and dialogue that have characterised our relationship for the three past decades.

“It fully meets with our will to build relationships between real partners, merging our skills to common goals and in the long term.

“Gymnastics, a true telegenic sport, will meet the challenges of a dynamic sports market and the audiovisual revolution in full.”

The agreement between the European Union of Gymnastics and European Broadcast Union covers Men's and Women's European Artistic and Rhythmic Championships ©Getty Images

Live streaming of both the European Artistic and Rhythmic Championships also features as part of the agreement between the two organisations and sees the EBU and UEG continue a partnership which has been in place for 30 years.

It comes after Guelzec, who is standing to replace outgoing International Gymnastics Federation President Bruno Grandi, called for gymnastics to do more to gain further exposure and visibility on the worldwide stage, with increasing the coverage of their main competitions one of his key ideas to help develop the sport.

“The extension of our relationship with the UEG is great news for our viewers,” EBU director sports and business Stefan Kürten said.

“This global partnership enables the EBU, its gymnastics members and rights holders around the world to bring European gymnastics to an enlarged audience and to serve the best interests of the sport and of our partner, the UEG.”