24/05/2014 09:00
CEV Satellite in Jurmala to turn into Latvia’s sporting event of the year
2014 CEV Beach Volleyball Satellite - Jurmala
Jurmala, Latvia, May 22, 2014. A press conference that marked the official presentation of the CEV Satellite tournament coming up later this summer in Latvia’s most popular seaside resort, the city of Jurmala, was held on Friday at the local Baltic Beach hotel. Jurmala will be hosting the first Satellite tournament on Latvian soil from August 28 through 31 and since valuable FIVB ranking points will be at stake there, some of Europe’s best players are set to find their way to the city. Latvian fans can already look forward to the event which is being supported by the local City Council, knowing that Beach Volleyball can play a major role in the development of Jurmala and of its neighborhood.
“Every year Jurmala hosts about 400 different sporting events, but there are some specific market niches that we want to develop,” said the Head of the Jurmala City Council, Gatis Truksnis. “Taking into consideration the strengths and assets of our city – a wonderful beach, the infrastructure, the status of a very relaxing city – Beach Volleyball is definitely a priority. The city is also going to invest into the set up of a modern centre for beach sports in Dubulti. There have been discussions with the Latvian Volleyball Federation to open a Volleyball section at our boarding sports school in Lielupe,” he added.
The President of the Latvian Volleyball Federation, Atis Sausnitis, said: “I am very delighted with the fact that a tournament of this scale has come to Latvia. It is very much supported also by the CEV because our country right now has some of the brightest stars shining on the international Beach Volleyball stage. The 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are not that far ahead and so we are all supporting Beach Volleyball as much as we can. With the help by the local municipality, plus our good athletes and our great fans, results will definitely follow. I hope we can make it to the 2016 Olympics with two teams.”
The initiator of this tournament, Andris Blaka, who is also a member of the Latvian Volleyball Federation Board of Administration, said: “Beach Volleyball is the fastest growing sport here in our country. I can even dare to say that even soccer and basketball do not have as many competitions, at local level, as we have in Beach Volleyball. The people of Latvia are convinced that Beach Volleyball is the sport that will make our country known all over the world in the future. We also want the Beach Volleyball elite to come to Jurmala so that our fans can see our players as well as some of the world’s best athletes in action. I would like to point out that Latvia has six great pairs right now who are spending abroad the entire season. With the CEV Satellite here in Jurmala, our fans will have the opportunity to see our players in action in their home country!”
One of these stars is definitely Aleksandrs Samoilovs who also attended the press conference: “This was my dream, to have an international Beach Volleyball competition here in Latvia, and that dream has come true! I am glad that the first step has been made and we will have this Satellite tournament in August. I have spoken with many of my colleagues and have invited them to come to Latvia, and to Jurmala, so let’s hope that some of the world’s best players will be here by the end of August,” he said.
The 2014 CEV Satellite in Jurmala is the major sporting event taking place this year in Latvia and will be followed by thousands of spectators.
Picture: from left to right Aleksandrs Samoilovs, Jurmala Mayor Gatis Truksnis, Latvian Volleyball Federation Board member Andris Blaka and Latvian Volleyball Federation President Atis Sausnitis
|