Head of Croatian Gymnastics: 'This is the new standard, and now we want the World Championships too'

The recent European Gymnastics Championships held in Zagreb have been hailed as a resounding success, both in terms of athletic performance and organizational execution. Marijo Možnik, president of the Croatian Gymnastics Federation and head of the organizing committee, expressed immense satisfaction and pride following the event's conclusion.

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This was a great European Championship, both organizationally and in terms of results, primarily thanks to the two gold medals of Ilija Kovtun.

"This was a great European Championship, both organizationally and in terms of results, primarily thanks to the two gold medals of Ilija Kovtun," Možnik stated. He emphasized that meticulous attention was paid to every detail, ensuring a high-caliber event. Možnik extended gratitude to all stakeholders, including the Croatian government, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the City of Zagreb, partners, sponsors, the dedicated organizing committee, and approximately 170 volunteers from over 20 countries.

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We paid attention to all the details.

The Arena Zagreb was strategically utilized by dividing it into two sections, creating a self-contained venue that simplified logistics and accommodated up to 5,000 spectators. Notably, the women's finals attracted more attendees than the men's, a trend Možnik attributed to the higher proportion of female members in gymnastics clubs. Even during the holiday weekend of the Assumption of Mary, the arena saw between 3,000 and 4,000 visitors daily.

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I would say that we made excellent use of the Arena Zagreb, in the sense that we divided it in half and had everything in one place.

Možnik highlighted the production's elevated standards, featuring extensive use of screens, lighting, and high-quality sound. He believes these efforts set a "new standard" for future events, a sentiment reportedly shared by the European Gymnastics Federation. While the junior gymnasts faced pressure and made some errors, Možnik acknowledged their strong desire to perform their best.

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As the president said, the biggest problem will now be for future organizers because after such an organization, everyone will somehow expect it to be the new standard.