Location Baku, Azerbaijan End date 15 June 2014 | Start date 10 June 2014 | |
Venue National Gymnastics Arena Nations 33 members of the European Union of Gymnastics | ||
The 30th Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships took place from June 10 to June 15, 2014 at the newly opened National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan. 33 participating federations with their juniors and seniors gymnasts participated at the event.
Contents
Participating countries
List of delegations participating in Championship.
Schedule
Overview
The 20 best senior individuals from 2013 will compete at the multiple competition (CII).
102 juniors (from 32 NF) will participate in the qualifying competition I (CI) and team competition and the final competition (4 apparatus) (CIII), 21 senior groups (consisted of 6 gymnasts) will present two different voluntary exercises, one executed with one apparatus (clubs), the other with different apparatus (3 balls/2 ribbons) on the occasion of the competition I (general competition) and the competition III (final competition for each exercise). At the European Championships in even years, the 20 best gymnasts from competition I of the previous year present their routines.
Controversies
According to Armenian sources, organizers of the European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics in Baku asked the Belarusian Group to give up using the music of Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian, at a press conference in Minsk reported by the head coach Irina Leparskaya. The Group had performed under Khachaturian’s "Sabre Dance" in their 2 Ribbons + 3 Balls routine, but had to change the exercise under a different music 2 weeks before the start of the Championships event. As spokeswoman, Samaya Mamedova, Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, said not interfere in any federations decisions:
Regarding Belarus, we didn't ask them to abandon their music. This decision was taken by Belarus itself. This is another provocative information spread by Armenians to tarnish Azerbaijan as organizer of the European Championships of Rhythmic Gymnastics.
The usually medal contenders Belarusian Group finished 17th in all-around and placed last in 2 Ribbons + 3 Balls qualification score amongst 21 countries during the European Championships. Armenia did not compete and send any delegations at the championships.