The inaugural European Games in the Azerbaijani capital, due to take place from June 12 to 28, will see all five gymnastic disciplines showcased simultaneously in the same hall for the first time ever.

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.

Tomorrow signals the start of the three-day Open Joint Azerbaijan Championship in Gymnastics, at which the new competition format will be trialled.

And speaking exclusively to insidethegames today, Guelzec, who is bidding to become President of the International Gymnastics Federation next year, said the UEG is keen to see how the Olympic disciplines, artistic, rhythmic and trampoline, compliment the non-Games disciplines, aerobics and acrobatics, as a spectacle.

"This is why this test event and the first European Games is very important to us," said the Frenchman.

"Afterwards, we can review whether it's possible to make changes and that's why we need feedback from the media, coaches and gymnasts so we can carry out different kinds of analysis after the European Games."

Acrobatics and aerobics will feature alongside the three established Olympic disciplines of artistic, trampoline and rhythmic, which is pictured here ©Getty Images



The Slovakian capital of Bratislava is scheduled to host the UEG's next annual Congress from November 20 to 22, when Guelzec says further discussions will be held to establish how the governing body will continue with its strategy known as "gymnastics of tomorrow".

The former Olympic gymnast was primarily in attendance here to lead the draw for the European Games gymnastics competition, which determined the order that athletes will compete in the five disciplines from June 14 to 19.

Facilitated by the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation (AGF), the draw was the first for any competition, in any sport at the European Games.

Pierce O'Callaghan, Baku 2015 director of sport, said it marked an important milestone "in what will be an exciting and thrilling gymnastics competition".

"I am sure that with the support of the UEG and the AGF, we will deliver a competition which will delight and entertain both athletes and spectators in Baku this summer," he added.

All disciplines will be held at the new 6,800-capacity purpose-built venue here, which is home of the AGF.

The four-day artistic gymnastics competition is set to begin on June 14, with 179 athletes battling for 14 medals in a mixture of team and individual events for men and women.

Aerobic, acrobatic, rhythmic and trampoline are due to take place from June 17 to 19, with a further 268 athletes competing across the four disciplines in 20 medal events.

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