According to European Gymnastics general director Lisa Worthmann, the body is looking to add a company from the "airline industry" to its list of sponsors ©Getty Images

European Gymnastics President Farid Gayibov has said that getting "big sponsors" on board will be a priority for the continental federation as it works on finalising a strategy for the future.

Gayibov said "talks are in place" with some companies simultaneously as European Gymnastics hopes to finalise the plans for a new strategy at its Congress in Sofia, Bulgaria, on December 1 and 2.

General director Lisa Worthmann added that the continental federation is looking to secure sponsorships with brands "that speak to us".

"We are looking into brands that speak to us.

"It is too early to reveal something concrete but the travel industry or the airline industry is something we are looking at," Worthmann told insidethegames.

"Gymnastics has on an average 70 per cent female participation if I am not wrong.

"This is something to look at when it comes to sponsors.

"Cosmetics, clothing and so on.

"We have reached out to some brands but nothing concrete yet.

"But it is something we want to follow up."

European Gymnastics is also looking at cosmetics or clothing brands as sponsors ©Getty Images
European Gymnastics is also looking at cosmetics or clothing brands as sponsors ©Getty Images

An Executive Committee meeting is scheduled to take place here on Monday (May 22) and Tuesday (May 23), after the conclusion of the 2023 European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships.

European Gymnastics has been working on the new strategy since January.

"We started working on this strategy in January," Worthmann added.

"We have been using the last few months for data collection.

"We contacted former organising committees and member federations with questionnaires.

"The plan is now to evaluate them and define the pillars.  

"Our Member Federations are very responsive with the questionnaires we have sent, and it has been very productive."

It is understood that the working groups are focusing on competitions, governance, finance, and the business side of things for the continental federation.

The need for "clarity" on some statures of the organisation will also be addressed during the Congress in December.

An Executive Committee meeting is scheduled to take place in Baku after the conclusion of the 2023 European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships ©Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation
An Executive Committee meeting is scheduled to take place in Baku after the conclusion of the 2023 European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships ©Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation

Russia and Belarus are among the topics that will be touched upon at the Executive Committee meeting in Baku, but the plan is to wait for the decision of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).

FIG postponed its decision to re-admit Russia and Belarus athletes and officials until July earlier this month.

FIG chief Morinari Watanabe told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month that he would "defend the right of Russian and Belarusian gymnasts who are not involved in the war to participate in competitions".

"There is no place for politics in sport," Gayibov said.

"At the moment, we will wait for a decision from the FIG.

"Then we will discuss it with our Executive Committee and take a decision.

"Until then, no Russians and Belarusians are allowed."