Beach Volleyball Commission shares high expectations for future of the sport

After a long break due to the coronavirus pandemic, the members of the European Beach Volleyball Commission (EBVC) chaired by Tomislav Šmuc could finally reconvene at the home of European Volleyball in Luxembourg for the first in-person meeting in two years – with some following from afar via Zoom due to travel restrictions.

It was a much-needed and appreciated opportunity to come together and review key facts and figures as well as the lessons taken from the 2021 season, which included two major highlights – EuroBeachVolley held in Vienna and the Olympic-qualifying Continental Cup Finals contested in The Hague. Moreover, the CEV and its partners delivered the postponed second phase of the Continental Cup, three age-group European Championships and a truly impressive number (17) of World Tour 1-Star and 2-Star events.

Such figures are especially important knowing that the global health crisis continues to pose a number of challenges to organisers of all sports events – but the EBVC members were obviously happy with what the CEV and the Beach Volleyball community managed to achieve even in such turbulent times.

Looking ahead, the EBVC analysed the future steps taken to continue to develop the sport – with a focus on Beach Volleyball featuring for the very first time at the multi-sport European Championships scheduled for later this summer in Munich. Moreover, the members reviewed the collaboration established with the FIVB for the delivery of the new VW Pro Beach Tour Futures in Europe.

Even more importantly, further to the work achieved by the ‘Beach Volleyball Think Tank’ back in 2021 and the latest decisions taken by the CEV Board of Administration, the EBVC reviewed the proposals as well as the core parameters for a number of additional competitions that the CEV is planning to introduce. In order to aid the growth of the sport, the CEV will soon launch new events for clubs and national teams, with the primary aim of such action being the provision of extra opportunities for players to compete all year round through the introduction of innovative formats that shall help engage with players, fans and media alike.

In a friendly atmosphere and with positive energy brought by all the participants, the EBVC now looks forward to another year filled with competitions that will provide up-and-coming as well as more established athletes with many chances to shine and to inspire the next generation of Beach Volleyball players!