The President's Note N° 1 - January 2026

Dear Gymnastics community

I hope you have enjoyed a pleasant festive season, got some rest and spent quality time with your loved ones.

A new year is now upon us. May it be filled with peace, celebration and lots of gymnastics. The new authorities of European Gymnastics started their role on 1 January. I’m looking forward to guiding the discussions and decision making for another 4 years, in my third and last cycle as European Gymnastics President.

During the previous cycle, significant efforts were made to develop a long-term strategy based on four pillars: Events, Marketing & Communication, Knowledge & Safeguarding and Organisation & Finance. The President’s Board and the Executive Committee will meet for the first time at the end of January. Then, we’ll continue on the path approved by our member federations, aiming to further strengthen our ideas into a solid programme. The experience of the various authorities allows us to take into account best practices from member federations while taking inspiration from other international sports federations. The focus of course remains on the athletes, staying true to our motto ‘The Essence of Sport’.  Stay tuned for more information!

A change is coming up in these President’s Notes: I’ll be taking up the pen quarterly instead of monthly. So this year you can expect to hear from me at the beginning of March, July, and September plus before the Christmas holidays.

Enjoy a thriving, flourishing start of 2026! Let’s get to work!

Dr. Farid Gayibov

European Gymnastics President