CEV President takes positives from historic visit to Norway

This past weekend CEV President Roko Sikirić travelled to Oslo to pay a visit to the Norwegian Volleyball Federation (NVBF) and attend the National Cup Finals held in Oslo. It was a truly special opportunity for the Scandinavian country to host the highest authority in CEV Volleyball for what was a historic and somehow long overdue visit. 

On Saturday, the CEV President could have a highly productive exchange with representatives from a variety of clubs, coaches, and other stakeholders in a workshop organised by the NVBF only a few hours ahead of the highly anticipated title-deciding matches. Mr Sikirić seized the opportunity to share his vision for the future of European Volleyball and to recount his own personal journey from elite player to the helm of the organisation responsible for the governance of the sport across Europe. He touched upon areas where the CEV and the NVBF can work together to grow the sport in Norway, in Scandinavia, and further beyond as well. 

Later in the afternoon, the CEV President watched from the stands the National Cup Finals and upon their completion he presented the players of Viking TIF BERGEN with their first historic trophy from the women’s event. In an electrifying atmosphere he shared with a record-breaking crowd of more than 2,000 fans, Mr Sikirić also witnessed the 3-0 victory of Koll IL from Oslo in the men’s final with BK TROMSØ.   

The weekend in Oslo was also an opportunity for the CEV President to meet with and have fruitful conversations with local authorities, such as NVBF President and Secretary General, Eirik Sørdahl and Guro Røen, and with the President of the National Olympic Committee of Norway, Ms Zaineb Al Samarai, with whom he agreed they would continue to liaise further to identify projects of common interest likely to help grow the game at all levels across the Scandinavian country. 

With the NBVF hosting their annual gala later in the evening, the CEV President could also catch up with Beach Volleyball superstars Anders Mol and Christian Sørum. The four-time EuroBeachVolley champions and Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medal winners remain a true gem and unique asset for the promotion of Volleyball and Beach Volleyball not only in Norway but across the globe as well.