The Alliance of Art and Sport: Rhytmic Gymnastics at European Games 2015

Above: Ksenia Moustafaeva of France performing a routine with a ribbon during the rhythmic gymnastics all-around final at the 1st European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Above: Salome Pazhava of Georgia competes during the rhythmic gymnastics all-around final at the 1st European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Above: Italy’s team performs a group exercise during the rhythmic gymnastics all-around final at the 1st European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Above: Mariya Mateva of Bulgaria performs a hoop routine during the rhythmic gymnastics final at the 1st European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Russia’s Yana Kudryavtseva won in the individual tournament of the rhythmic gymnastics event in Baku.

Above: Yana Kudryavtseva competes during the rhythmic gymnastics all-around final at the 1st European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Above: Israeli athletes compete in the women's group all-around final of the acrobatic gymnastics event at the 2015 European Games in Baku.

Russia’s team won the all-around team event at the 2015 European Games in Baku. The Israeli and Belarusian teams came second and third respectively.

Above: Russia's gymnasts compete in the acrobatic gymnastics women's team competition at the 2015 European Games in Baku.

Above: Eleonora Romanova of Ukraine performs her club routine at the rhythmic gymnastics all-around at the 2015 European Games in Baku.

The European Games were initiated by the example of the other continental multi-sport events, such as the Asian Games, Pan-American Games, All-Africa Games and Pacific Games. Their launch was announced by the European Olympic Committee on December 8, 2012.

Above: British athletes compete during the acrobatic gymnastics women’s team competition at the 2015 European Games in Baku.

Above: Yana Kudryavtseva competes during the rhythmic gymnastics all-around final at the 1st European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Above: Greece’s team performs during the team all-around final of the rhythmic gymnastics tournament at the 2015 European Games in Baku.

Currently, Russia has scored 44 medals (including 24 gold medals) and is leading in the team event of the Games.

Above: Margarita Mamun of Russia performs her ball routine during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around event at the 2015 European Games in Baku.

Above: Bulgaria’s team performs a ribbon routine during the group all-around final of the rhythmic gymnastics tournament at the 2015 European Games in Baku.

Above: Marina Durunda of Azerbaijan performing a routine with a ribbon during the rhythmic gymnastics all-around final at the 1st European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Above: Medalists in the women's individual all-around rhythmic gymnastics competition at the 2015 Baku European Games, during the award ceremony: Melitina Stanyuta (Belarus) - bronze medal; Yana Kudryavtseva (Russia) - gold medal; Margarita Mamun (Russia) - silver medal.