In 2019 it was announced that Munich would host the second multi-sport European Championships in 2022. Artistic gymnastics was part of the programme, as it had been in Glasgow in 2018. The championships took place in August 2022, fifty years after Munich hosted the 1972 Olympic Games.
What the multi-sport format is
The European Championships bring together the continental championships of several sports in one city, over one period, under one brand. Each sport keeps its own rules and its own federation in charge of the competition, but broadcasting, branding and the visitor experience are shared. Glasgow and Berlin co-hosted the first edition in 2018.
Why it suits gymnastics
- Broadcast reach. Shared TV deals give gymnastics prime-time exposure across Europe. - New audiences. Visitors who come for athletics or cycling can drop into a gymnastics session. - Festival atmosphere. Athletes describe the multi-sport setting as closer to the Olympics than a stand-alone championship.
The Olympic Park connection
Munich's Olympic Park, built for 1972, is one of the most recognisable sports venues in Europe. Bringing gymnastics back to the city of the 1972 Games gave the 2022 event a strong sense of history.
Looking back
By 2022 gymnastics had been through two disrupted seasons. Munich felt like a return to normal, with spectators and full teams, and it showed again how well the multi-sport model works for sports that rarely get top billing on their own.
See our archive pages for the Glasgow 2018 women's and men's championships, the first in this format.
