Men’s European Championships Open

May 08, 2008 By Nadja Boucard

The 28th Men’s European Championships opened Wednesday evening in Lausanne, Switzerland, with a wonderful opening ceremony before a large crowd.

Highlighting the ceremony at Malley Arena were performances by many gymnasts from the Leman Lake area, who presented general, artistic, rythmic, trampoline and mixed-groups gymnastics. They created very nice scenes, including the portrayal of a coach with his young gymnast, dreaming of being a star one day, going through the good and bad times in an athlete's career.

Swiss gymnast Mark Ramseier recited the athletes' oath.

Thursday's competition features senior qualifications, the highlight of which should be the third and final subdivision that will feature the leading teams. These teams include Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Hungary, Greece and Great Britain.

Friday will feature the junior team and all-around finals, followed by Saturday's senior team finals and Sunday's apparatus finals for seniors and juniors. No senior all-around competition is taking place.

Gold medalists at the 2007 European Championships in Amsterdam were Russia's Maxim Devyatovsky (all-around); Spain's Rafael Martinez (floor exercise); Hungary's Krisztian Berki (pommel horse); Ukraine's Alexander Vorobyov (rings); Russia's Anton Golotsutskov (vault); Slovenia's Mitja Petkovsek (parallel bars); and Germany's Fabian Hambüchen (high bar). No senior team or junior competitions took place in 2007.

External Link: 2008 Men's European Championships

IG Magazine Related Features
2007 Men's and Women's European Championships cover story (June/July 2007)
2006 Men's European Championships coverage (July/August 2006)
2005 Men's and Women's European Championships cover story (August/September 2005)
2004 Men's and Women's European Championships cover story (June/July 2004)

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