A FAIRY TALE ON SAND

European Championship Tour 2004

Roseto degli Abruzzi, 16th May 2004. At the Italian Open of the European Championship Tour the results are at hand and the 100,000 Euros in prize money have been handed out. Javier BOSMA and Pablo HERRERA from Spain won the final against the German team Markus DIECKMANN and Jonas RECKERMANN 2:1 (24:22, 14:21, 15:11), earning 8,500 Euros in prize money. The runners-up received 6,250 Euros. Third place went to Markus EGGER and Sascha HEYER (SUI) without a fight because the French duo Stephane CANET and Mathieu HAMEL could not play in the match for third place due to injuries.

Instead of the bronze medal final the fans on centre court experienced an exciting exhibition match that was played four against four. The prize money of 1,000 Euro went to the quartet Sascha HEYER (SUI), Haroldas CYVAS, Marius VASISILAUSKAS (both LTU) and Simon DAHL (SWE) who won 2:0 sets (23:21, 21:16) against Natale MONOPOLI and Roberto MARINI (both ITA) and Mykola BABICH and Dmytro KHUDOLEY (both UKR).

The French team had already reached their limit in the previous match and essentially let DIECKMANN/RECKERMANN put on a Beach Volleyball clinic in a straight set semi-final dismantling (21:10, 21:12). The one-sided match was due to the fact that the French were out of steam following their strenuous qualification and especially because Jonas RECKERMANN saved his best play for the final on centre court. The tall, redheaded German, who is nick-named "Hightower" in the Beach Volleyball scene, scored six aces and five blocks in the first set alone.

"That was an unbelievable performance", Markus DIECKMANN praised his partner, but also added that "the final will be considerably harder." The defence specialist proved right. At the beginning of the preliminary round BOSMA and HERRERA beat the German duo and in the Final of the Italian Open they did it again. In Pablo HERRERA's case his performance is somewhat of a miracle. After a severe car accident last year the 21-year old block player was in a coma for three days fighting for his life. Among other things, a neck vertebra was dislocated and it was unclear whether or not he could ever play competitive Beach Volleyball again. His partner BOSMA played with Raul MESA for nearly a year, with whom HERRERA had won the Junior World Championship title. Now HERRERA is back and his comeback story is somehow a fairy tale on sand.

In the women's bracket, Sona NOVAKOVA and Eva CELBOVA from the Czech Republic defeated Swiss Simone KUHN and Nicole SCHNYDER-BENOIT easily in straight sets (21:14, 21:15) and were rewarded for their outstanding achievement with 8,500 Euros in prize money. The runners-up received the consolation prize of 6,250 Euros. Third place went to the Italians Laura BRUSCHINI and Annamaria SOLAZZI who won the match for third place against Norway's Ingrid TORLEN and Nila Ann HAKEDAL 2:0 (21:16, 21:14).

After the impressive season start at the Italian Open the continental Beach Volleyball scene is feverishly awaiting the European Championship Final, which will be held in Timmendorfer Strand (Germany) from 10 to 13 June 2004. "We are really looking forward to this tournament", Sona NOVAKOVA said, "because all of the players say that the atmosphere and the fans in Timmendorfer Strand are incredible. It will definitely be a highlight for us."

Background information on the European Championship Tour
The European Championship Tour is the highest ranked series of European Beach Volleyball tournaments that promotes the sport and its star players on a European level. The series of tournaments culminates into the European Championship Final as the season's highlight.

For further information please visit www.eurobeachtour.com and/or contact the Communication Managers of the European Championship Tour Klaus Wegener and Felix Meininghaus at communications@eurobeachtour.com.

Background information on the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball
The CEV is the FIVB supporting institution responsible for governing 54 National Volleyball Federations throughout Europe and is recognised as such by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) for Volleyball and Beach Volleyball. The CEV has the authority and responsibility for organising all European Competitions, especially the European Championship Tour (Men & Women).

For further information please contact the CEV Head Office in Luxembourg, Olivier Mottier at olivier.mottier@cev.lu or
+ 352 25 46 46 25.

Background information on Global Sports Marketing Ltd. (GSM)
GSM is dedicated to the development and implementation of innovation in sports and entertainment. The company positions and markets international sports and entertainment properties on behalf of the respective rights-holders. Besides, it offers all services related to the marketing of commercial rights - media, sponsorship and licensing/merchandising rights as well as development of sports brands. GSM, based in Zurich (Switzerland) develops, promotes and markets the European Championship Tour within a long-term partnership with the European Volleyball Confederation CEV.

For further information please contact Global Sports Marketing, Christian Scholbrock at christian.scholbrock@gsmglobalsports.com or +41 43 244 9977.

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