06/09/2017 13:06
Special Olympics European Unified Volleyball Tournament crowned with success in Katowice
Miscellaneous
Katowice, Poland, September 6, 2017. The Special Olympics European Unified Volleyball Tournament finished on Sunday, September 4 in one of the LOTTO EUROVOLLEY POLAND 2017 host cities, Katowice. On the last day of the men’s EuroVolley in Krakow, 100 Special Olympics athletes and partners from Special Olympic unified Volleyball teams representing Azerbaijan, Belarus, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Serbia and Slovakia participated in an emotional Closing Ceremony in one of the most iconic and unique arenas in Poland – Spodek in Katowice.
The tournament, which lasted for three days, featured Unified Volleyball teams from all across the Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia region, thus delivering an exciting competition and sending out a powerful message of social inclusion.
On Sunday, after the bronze medal match and before the ‘grand finale’ of the 2017 men’s EuroVolley, Mr Jacek Kasprzyk – President of the Polish Volleyball Federation and CEV President Aleksandar Boričić received from Joanna Styczeń-Lasocka – General Director of Special Olympics Poland and Krzysztof Krukowski – Development Director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia commemorative awards for their constant support towards the organisation.
With the support of PFRON, the Polish Ministry of Sport and Tourism, the CEV, the Polish Volleyball Federation and the local authorities in Katowice, Special Olympics were able to deliver a message of tolerance, acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities through sport.
Samuele Papi, President of the newly established CEV Athletes’ Working Group, and Mr Jacek Sęk, Vice President of the Polish Volleyball Federation, attended the Opening Ceremony of the tournament held on Friday night.
The event featured Special Olympics friends and ambassadors, such as Special Olympics Global Ambassador Vladimir Grbic, Special Olympics Poland Ambassadors – Sebastian Świderski, Jakub Wesołowski and Zygmunt Chajzer, Special Olympics Poland Friends – Jakub Bednaruk, Piotr Gacek, Marcin Komenda, Dominika Nestarcova, Agnieszka Wypych, the players of GKS KATOWICE – a Polish professional Volleyball club, plus renowned Volleyball coaches Waldemar Wspaniały and Sławomir Gościniak.
The event reminded Volleyball fans and supporters all over Europe about the importance of opening their hearts and minds to the Special Olympics athletes.
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