Teams from 29 countries are making their way to the beautiful capital of Vest-Agder county for a week in which the thrill of the competition will be framed in an ideal destination to showcase the dreams of glory of the future heroes of European Beach Volleyball. Representatives from Russia will act as the defending champions and one of the main powers in age continental competitions, as Russian teams Yarzutkin/Stoyanovskiy and Rudykh/Makroguzova were crowned winners of the CEV U18 European Beach Volleyball Championship celebrated last year in Belarus. Meanwhile, Norwegian players will defend local interests with six enthusiastic duos that will try to make an impact on home ground.

The astonishing seaside of the southern coast of Norway, bordered by bucolic lakes and peaceful forests, establish a picturesque setting for participants and Beach Volleyball fans alike to live an unforgettable experience. Strategically located between Nordic and Baltic seas, Norway’s fifth largest city acts as one of  the Norwegian “Meccas” of the sport and in fact hosted the national junior Beach Volleyball competitions two weeks prior of the launching of this Under 18 continental championship. In addition of displaying the attributes of the upcoming figures of the sport, this event will put Kristiansand back in the line of main international events. In 2011, the sands of the town nicknamed “Port of Norway”, a worldwide famous enclave as popular destination for tourists searching tranquility, played host to the CEV Beach Volleyball European Championship  Final. The spectacular tournament catalyzed the attention of continental Beach Volleyball in a sensational show that finished with the crowning of Germany’s Brink/Reckermann and Italy’s Cicolari/Menegatti in a memorable week of competition, thus registering the culmination of a succession of five years of major international competitions in the city.

Now the action transfers to Gimle Sandbaner Sports Center for four days of the best Beach Volleyball, scheduled to start on Thursday with the pool play matches. The arena in Kristiansand represents the perfect staging to display the hopes of the forthcoming force of the sport, as it is located near the renowned local University, where younger generations build body and soul to meet their bright future. This sense of anticipation will shine on the young players, as they try to make their dreams come true on Norwegian sand; one hundred and thirty aspiring stars of the sport that wish to start their paths to glory in continental Beach Volleyball in Kristiansand.    

Click here for more info including a detailed match programme.