Euskalgym is a massive event for the audience to enjoy discovering the spectacularity of rhythmic gymnastics . It is a tribute to gymnastics, designed for the delight of fans of this sport, raised to the category of art.
It is one of the most famous events of the year, where the top gymnasts from around the world perform one or two exercises and a gala. The event was held in BEC (Bilbao Exhibition Center), Bilbao (Spain) which also hosted huge events such as MTV Music Awards.
Because of the worldwide health crisis, the event was cancelled by the organization and they are looking forward the next autumn in 2021.
Due to the worldwide health crisis, many federations withdrawn from European Championships that are going to be held in Kiev, Ukraine in a few days. A group that was among the favorites was Belarus. Today, Belarusian Senior Group withdrawn from the list.
On the other hand, Bulgarian Senior group recently confirmed that they withdrawn from European Championships in Kiev from November 26 to 29 since a member of the team, Erika Zafirova, tested positive for coronavirus. Local news reported that the team will be on quarantine for ten days and they will not be able to train either compete.
Ukrainian Senior Group
This competition will not qualify for Olympic Games, as it was planned before the health crisis.
Due to the current Covid19 crisis all over Europe, FIG will be asked to inform the IOC that Olympic Qualification is not possible at European Championships this year. These organizations don’t want to pressure Federations to travel to an event since the current situation is not appropiate for such an important decision.
Bulgarian Senior group recently confirmed that they withdrawn from European Championships in Kiev from November 26 to 29 since a member of the team, Erika Zafirova, tested positive for coronavirus.
Local news reported that the team will be on quarantine for ten days and they will not be able to train either compete.
Bulgaria 5 Balls 2020
Bulgarian Senior Group will no longer travel to the Kiev
This group has been in top 5 positions since 2014 and they clearly were favorites.
The situation right now is really unstable due to the Covid crisis in the whole Europe. Irina Deriugina confirmed this week that their intention is to still organize the event under strict conditions and with no audience.
Bulgarian Senior Group in 2019
On the other hand, Boryana Kaleyn and Katrin Taseva, will represent Bulgaria in the individual competition.
Vlada Nikolchenko, Bronze European Medallist in 2019 with clubs
Current Ukrainian Champion, Vlada Nikolchenko recently talked to European Gymnastics Website about her Rhythmic Gymnastics career.
Just three weeks left to go to until the Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships kick off!
Last week, several countries declined their participation at this event, including one of the favorite team, Italy. At the end of September, Russia also confirmed they won’t compete at European Championships this year due to the health crisis. Russia was already qualified for Olympic Games
“For us, the pandemic is affecting both physically and emotionally. Many competitions were cancelled. We are still training, went to a training camp this summer and got fit for the competitions. We are glad Irina Ivanovna Deriugina could manage to hold the Deriugina Cup last September.”
“The worldwide health crisis is affecting us both physically and emotionally”
“After everything was closed because of the lockdown in March, we had three months to prepare for competitions. The situation in the country remained difficult even at the beggining of the summer. At the moment, we are intensively preparing for the main date of this year – the European Championships. It is very important for us, the athletes to feel the spirit of the high level competition. We believe that everything will work out, despite all the hard times and the latest news.”
“My aim is to to compete at Olympic Games and win a medal. Right now I am also studying to become a coach, looking forward the future.”
“Many fans wrote us and supported us during quarantine, when everybody in Europe was at home. We were also asked to shoot some videos as an inspiration and support for all the gymnasts, who couldn’t train. In Instagram, they are creating groups to support us and fanpages. I have 30 thousand subscribers on my Instagram fan page. In Ukraine, we have a Telegram channel of the national team, but the interest for rhythmic gymnastics never subsides.”
Kiev host the European Championships with the absence of the spectators in the stands.
Dance Steps by Ukrainian Group under the music ” No Roots” by Alice Merton
The music is the artistic part of a Rhythmic Gymnastics exercise. It is also regulated by Rhythmic Gymnastics Code of Points. A sounds signal may start before the music, which indicates the gymnast to be ready for the song. The sounds of sirens, car engines and non typical music is totally forbidden. Each piece of music must be recorded using CD, single or USB. The name of the gymnast, country (the 3 capital letters used by the FIG to designate the gymnast’s country) and the apparatus.
Natalia Garcia (ESP) during dancing steps
Ukraine’s “Vogue” by Madonna was such an original exercise
Since 2013, music with non-offensive words was allowed to use in Rhythmic Gymnastics
Margarita Mamun’s “Single Ladies” by Beyonce was one of the top exercises of 2015
Salome Pazhava’s “Supremacy” by Muse fitted perfectly for her
Bulgaria’s and the storie of Kaliakra War
Alina Maksymenko’s mesmerazing “Fever”
Penalties:
0.50 point for music not conforming to regulations for Individual and Group exercises.
In case the music plays incorrectly (wrong music, music distortion or interruption, etc.), it is the responsibility of the gymnast(s) or Group(s) to stop the exercise as soon as the gymnast(s) or Group(s) realizes the music is incorrect; the gymnast(s) will exit the competition floor and will re-enter and re-start the routine with her/their own/correct music when called to the competition floor.
Italy’s powerful “Eye of the Tiger”
Almudena Cid’s clubs routine using Nancy Sinatra’s music
Vice Olympic Champion Irina Tchachina and her iconic performance “Pirates of the Caribbean”
Spanish Senior Team became World Champions with this flamenco music by Miguel Poveda
A total of 27 federations were registered in entries at the end of October in this year’s European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics which will be held in Kiev (UKR) from 26 to 29 November.
Due to the health crisis situation all around the World, the Olympic qualification process was moved to next year’s event but these gymnasts are still offered the opportunity to compete.
The host nation, Ukraine, will be represented by Viktoriia Onopriienko and Vlada Nikolchenko.
Vlada Nikolchenko (UKR)
The following countries in red colour in the list of nominative entries, are not going to compete at European Championships.
The last country that joined the list of non-participation was Italy.
Milena Baldasarri and Alexandra Agiurgiuculese (ITA)
Rhythmic Gymnastics Info 