04/04/2014 14:00
National Olympic Committee President Alfons Hörmann attends Playoff match in Dresden
News from the clubs
Dresden, Germany, April 4, 2014. The players and the coaching staff of DRESDNER SC could not ask for a better way to start their campaign in the Playoffs of the Bundesliga. As they edged past VolleyStars THÜRINGEN by 3:1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-17, and 25-12) in the first round of the quarterfinals, they were cheered on by almost 3,000 fans at the Margon Arena including a very special guest, i.e. the President of the German Olympic Committee, Alfons Hörmann.
Mr. Hörmann stepped in as President of the German Olympic Sports Committee (DOSB) after the previous chairman, Dr. Thomas Bach, was elected IOC President last September in Buenos Aires, Argentina. “After this game I have become a Volleyball fan,” he said. “It was a very exciting match where both teams fought very hard and did not want to leave a chance to their opponent. However, as the match progressed, the difference in power became more and more evident,” Hörmann added after attending a match of the Bundesliga for the very first time.
“We are evidently honored with the visit of the DOSB President,” says the Managing Director of DRESDNER SC, Sandra Zimmermann. The team from Saxony was already in the spotlight this year after making the semis of the CEV Volleyball Cup losing there only to Russia’s heavyweight Uralochka-NTMK EKATERINBURG. Mr. Hörmann was not the only honorary guest at the Margon Arena for the match with VolleyStars was also attended by the Interior Minister of Saxony, Markus Ulbig.
The visit by Mr. Hörmann was organized only a couple of weeks ago after first talks were carried out in January during a sports gala that was attended by the DOSB President. The players and the staff of DRESDNER SC could not expect that such busy man would be able to accept their invitation so quickly. However, the attendance was somehow pre-confirmed by the Chairman of DRESDNER SC, Jörg Dittrich: “If Alfons Hörmann says he is coming, then he will,” he said recalling that the two have known each other already for quite some years.
Hörmann re-booked his flight from Munich because initially he was due to attend the German Table Tennis Open in Magdeburg. “I was already a few times in Dresden for my business and I always had very good experiences,” he said. “I am glad that this time I could make it to this city to attend a sporting event.” In a short conversation with DRESDNER SC head coach Alexander Waibl, Hörmann said he is confident he does not need to attend the next matches to bring additional luck to the team: “I have heard that you are able to win even without me,” he said with a bright smile.
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