History
Originally held biannually and in odd-numbered years, the championships moved to even-numbered years in 1990. In 2005 a second set of championships was introduced, titled the "individual championships". Although numbered as a separate event, winners in either event are considered European champions, and the championships as a result have in effect become an annual event, but in two formats; in even-numbered years, a stand-alone men's event incorporates the European Junior Artistic Gymnastics championships (an entirely separate women's competition is held in the same years), while in odd-numbered years, the separately numbered 'individual championships' are held in conjunction with the women's competition of the same description, but without juniors, as a single event.[ citation needed ]
As a result, there is no individual all-around title awarded in even-numbered years (except for juniors), and similarly no team all-around title awarded in odd-numbered years. These thus remain biannual events. Otherwise the apparatus and titles are identical.[ citation needed ]
In 2015, UEG agreed that beginning in 2018, the annual European Championships in the midyear of the Olympic cycle (i.e. 2 years after, and before, a Summer Olympic Games) would be held as part of the new multi-sport European Championships event, and would be held in that format every four years. These combined events will continue to be run by UEG and the other sports federations. Although both the Men's and Women's championships will be held together, in the same venue, these championships will continue to be treated as separate men's and women's events, with junior events included.[ citation needed ]
A further event, the European Games also holds a full set of championships for European artistic gymnasts in the year preceding the Summer Olympic Games, having begun in 2015. These, however, are organized by the European Olympic Committees and are not recognized as part of the continuity of the European Championships. [a]
