The Romanian capital was chosen at a UEG Executive Committee meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, and the Championships will take place from April 10 to 17.

Comăneci, who famously became the first-ever gymnast to be awarded a perfect 10 score at an Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976, will be the stellar name promoting the event and she says she cannot wait for the Championships to come to her home country.

"I was very excited to learn that the 2017 European Championships will be held in Bucharest, where the first Europeans were held in 1957," said the five-time Olympic gold medallist who also secured nine Olympic titles.

"To be able to host these very important championships while celebrating the 60th Anniversary will be wonderful for all Romanians.

"Personally, it will also be the 40th Anniversary of my second win in the European Championships all around in Prague.

"I pledge to do all that I can to make these 2017 Europeans the best ever!"

Nadia Comaneci, surely the best known Romanian athlete in history, has backed Bucharest 2017 ©AFP/Getty Images





The Championships will take place in a €80 million (£60 million/$90 million) sports complex which will be financed by by the Romanian state and the city of Bucharest, it was revealed.

At the same Committee meeting, the UEG also revealed the 9th European Aerobic Championships have have been awarded to the Portuguese town of Elvas, while the 11th European TeamGym Championships will be held in Maribor, Slovenia, with each event happening in October 2016.

Romania enjoyed a successful 2014 European Gymnastics Championships as they took gold in the team event as well as a range of individual medals.

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