In February 2019, more than two years ahead of the event, Basel was already working at full speed on the 2021 European Championships in artistic gymnastics. Nobody could have known then that those plans would have to survive a pandemic. In April 2021 the championships did take place, and they became the first major continental gymnastics event of the restart.
From early planning to crisis planning
The early start gave Basel a head start on venues, accommodation and volunteers. From March 2020, though, organising a championship during a pandemic meant working with several scenarios at once. Organisers had to plan for full arenas, partial attendance and empty stands, with health protocols that could change at short notice. Testing, separate bubbles for teams and limits on accredited personnel all became part of the plan.
Why Basel mattered
For gymnasts, Basel was the first big chance in more than a year to compete against the European elite. It was also an important step in Olympic preparation: with Tokyo moved to the summer of 2021, the European Championships became a selection test for many national teams.
Switzerland as a host
Switzerland had hosted the European Championships in Bern in 2016 and had built a reputation as an efficient organiser. Basel's experience with large international events helped the organising committee adapt quickly.
What the event showed
- Elite competition could return under strict health measures. - Gymnasts had kept their skills during the shutdown, but match fitness and consistency took time to rebuild. - European gymnastics had a clear path back to a regular calendar.
Looking back
Basel 2021 is remembered less for any single result than for what it represented: the sport getting back on the competition floor. For those involved, simply holding the event was the achievement.
See also our archive pages for the planned 2020 women's championships in Paris and men's championships in Baku.
