The Frenchman was speaking ahead of this year's Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, due to open in Nanning, China, tomorrow, where he hopes to meet his colleagues, including members of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Executive Committee and, in particular, the President of the sport's world governing body, Bruno Grandi.

"Gymnastics has an urgent need to review its competition formats to strengthen its attractiveness," Guelzec said.

"The reactions of the public, the media and television confirm this.

"The time for a fundamental, radical change has come."

The UEG said in a statement that Guelzec "will present this reform message" at the FIG Congress in Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent on October 29 and 30.

It said it will also be the central point of a symposium scheduled to take place in London next November, which will be the continuation of the first one held in Lausanne in March this year.

The National Gymnastics Arena in Baku will be home to the sport at the 2015 European Games ©UEG


Meanwhile, Guelzec is set to provide the FIG with information on the preparations for the inaugural European Games, due to take place in Azerbaijan's capital Baku from June 12 to 28, 2015.

The UEG said the event will signify "a small revolution" for gymnastics, as, for the first time ever, all five gymnastics disciplines will be showcased simultaneously in the same hall at the same time in the city's brand-new National Gymnastics Arena.

As well as artistic, rhythmic and trampoline events, which have featured at every Olympics since Amsterdam 1928, Los Angeles 1984 and Sydney 2000 respectively, the non-Games disciplines of aerobics and acrobatics will also be staged.

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