29/10/2020 10:53
Ukrainian Volleyball family discloses ambitious plans during CEV President’s visit
News from the CEV
Kyiv, Ukraine, October 29, 2020. After receiving an overwhelming majority of the votes cast at the XLI CEV General Assembly held earlier this month in Vienna, CEV President Aleksandar Boričić travelled this past week to Ukraine upon invitation of the President of the Ukrainian Volleyball Federation (UVF), Mykhaylo Melnyk. The CEV President attended, among other things, a solemn ceremony held to celebrate 95 years of Volleyball in Ukraine – as well as the women’s Supercup match played in the city of Horodok.
During his stay and in many conversation he had with local officials, Mr Boričić showed much appreciation for Mr Melnyk and the UVF – and especially for the progress made by the Ukrainian Volleyball family over the last few years – doing so also at a ceremony attended by Ukrainian players who helped teams representing the former Soviet Union claim Olympic gold.
Shortly after the ceremony, the CEV President enjoyed a truly dramatic Supercup match where SC ‘Prometey’ KAMIANSKE edged Khimik YUZHNY at the tiebreak to secure their first title in the competition. The re-elected CEV President attended the medal ceremony as well, awarding the Most Valuable Player of the Supercup, Ukrainian rising Volleyball star Diana Melushkyna.
CEV President Aleksandar Boričić awarding UVF President Mykhaylo Melnyk in recognition of the terrific progress made by the Ukrainian Volleyball family in recent times
At the end of his visit, Mr Boričić emphasised that he considers the work of the UVF an example to look up to for other members of the European Volleyball family, while wishing Ukrainian Volleyball much success in all of their future activities and endeavours. Moreover, the CEV President expressed his hope that major international Volleyball competitions would be taking place in the Eastern European country in the near future.
UVF President Melnyk did not hesitate to respond to such an invitation, disclosing with national media ambitious plans to host the final stages of the women’s European Golden League in 2021 as well as the 2023 edition of EuroVolley Men. “We understand that we will have to withstand serious competition from other European countries, but we are ready for that. Moreover, the CEV President made it clear that the European Volleyball Confederation is interested in taking such major competitions to ‘new’ countries in order to grow the game and support its development,” Melnyk said.
The CEV President portrayed with Ukrainian Volleyball legends at a ceremony organised to celebrate 95 years of Volleyball in the country
Waiting for the return of some sort of normalcy and hoping to overcome the coronavirus pandemic as soon as possible, the UVF President disclosed further positive news for Volleyball in the country. “While attending the CEV General Assembly in Vienna, we reached an agreement with the President of the Volleyball Federation of Serbia, Zoran Gajic, for the organisation of joint training camps and of some 3-4 friendly matches before the start of next year’s EuroVolley. Moreover, we have learned more about the CEV’s programme for the development of Volleyball among children and school pupils. We will ask for the support of a specialist in this area to assist us with the organisation and delivery of youth and school competitions. We strive to raise Volleyball in Ukraine to a much higher level, so international experience will certainly be beneficial,” Mr Melnyk said.
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