Danish Volleyball elite take lessons from ‘inspiration tour’ to LKH Arena

Their visit to Lüneburg was a few days ago – but will likely have a lasting impact far into the future. At the last Bundesliga home game against the BERLIN Recycling Volleys, a 40-person delegation from Volleyball Denmark were the ‘outsider’ guests at the LKH Arena in Lüneburg. The group included all Board members of the Danish Volleyball Federation, the chairpersons of 14 clubs in the men’s and women’s Volleyligaen (which is the highest division of the Danish national league), and three international referees – they all watched SVG LÜNEBURG and their emotional 3-2 victory from the upper stands.

“What you have achieved is very inspiring!”

“We want to raise the level of Volleyball in Denmark. And in Lüneburg, we have a role model for that!” Pau Lund-Larsen is convinced. The chairman of Volleyball Denmark was impressed by the development there: “When SVG started ten years ago, in terms of arena and attendance, it was at the level that most league clubs in Denmark currently have – even the best ones. We are still far behind in that respect, but what they have achieved with sponsors, partners, and the arena is very inspiring. We have to dare to believe in the next step – and SVG is the perfect role model for that!” he stressed. 

In addition to ‘Volleyball people’, commercial partners of Volleyball Denmark were also part of the group travelling to Lüneburg. “We also wanted to bring people from the city to show them that we need an arena like this. Period!” Lund-Larsen underlines his ambitions.

The program of the ‘Inspiration Tour’ also included a film celebrating SVG’s 10th Bundesliga anniversary. It was shown on the participants’ tablets on the bus during the two-and-a-half-hour journey. “I subtitled it and divided it into five or six key points. This shows, for example, the differences between the first and most recent Bundesliga season, the role of coach Stefan Hübner, the sponsors, the perception in the city, and so on. I want 40 people to go home to their clubs, and be inspired to reach a higher level,” explains Lund-Larsen. “And they will – because that is exactly what I experienced the first time I was here!”

The fact that the date, which had been planned long in advance, coincided with the duel between the two top German clubs, caused additional enthusiasm: “We could not have made a better choice of match!”  

Visit to SVG provides motivation for the next step

The day after the match, there were further insights: head coach Stefan Hübner stopped by the hotel and reported on his work and the development of the club. “Now we have the inspiration – and then we will talk about how we can get there in ten years,” said Lund-Larsen, looking ahead to the next step. He is certain: “Everyone who was there will be motivated to reach a new level. We have been at the same level for 10, 15 years – now we have to take the next step!” 

He has already identified a trend: “So far, Volleyball in Denmark has simply been Volleyball. We have not yet dared to turn it into an event – that is what is going down well here. We need that mindset in Denmark!” 

Lund-Larsen is keen to share his impressions of the tour and the positive cooperation with the SVG: “I will also report on this to the CEV and FIVB,” he said, already anticipating feedback about the ‘best case SVG’ to the European and world governing bodies of the sport. 

And incidentally, Pau Lund-Larsen also has a very personal connection to SVG: he is the father to their youngster and rising star Axel Larsen, who is only 20 years old. “I am super happy about his role. After all, he is still very young and has his time ahead of him. And yet he is getting opportunities in important moments, like by the score of 14-13 in the Champions League first leg against BERLIN, when he was entrusted with the responsibility of serving. That has already given him a lot of confidence and that makes me very proud as a father too.” 

Pictures courtesy of Patrick Dufrêche