Markus Dieckmann demonstrated an almost faultless performance
13.06.2004

DIECKMANN/RECKERMANN RETURN TO EC-THRONE

European Championship Final

Timmendorfer Strand/Luxembourg, June 13, 2004. Markus Dieckmann and Jonas Reckermann from Germany are the 2004 beach volleyball European Champions. In an enthusiastic final on a sold-out centre court (3,500 fans) they defeated Sascha Heyer and Markus Egger (Switzerland) in two straight sets (21:16, 27:25).

It is Dieckmann/Reckermann's second European Championship title as two years ago at the European Championship in Basel they won the most prestigious European tournament for the first time. Last year in the heat of Alanya (Turkey) they fell to Berger/Doppler of Austria in the final in three hard-fought sets. "I am really happy", Markus Dieckmann said after the final. "We have three major goals for this season: the European Championship Final, the Grand Slam in Berlin and, of course, the Olympic Games in Athens. Now we have already reached the first goal." Dieckmann/Reckermann not only received a trophy for their European Championship title, but also 17,000 Euros and 240 ranking list points for the Olympic qualification. Egger/Heyer were rewarded for second place with 12,500 Euros in prize money and 216 qualification points. For Egger/Heyer it was the third participation at a European Championship Final having won the title in 2001 and finishing third in 2003.
In the fight for third place it was Switzerland's Patrick Heuscher and Stefan Kobel who won the bronze medal (9,000 Euros, 192 points). The second ranked team in the world beat the German duo David Klemperer and Niklas Rademacher in straight sets (21:16, 21:18). For the third ranked German team reaching the bronze medal stage was a great accomplishment as they came through the qualification as "lucky loser" and beat Norway's Kjemperud/Hoidalen in the quarterfinals. Stefan Kobel was disappointed with the loss against Dieckmann/Reckermann in the semis "because we had a weak phase in both sets", but was still very pleased about bronze saying that, "It's a good finish for us."
The final between Dieckmann/Reckermann and Egger/Heyer, which was broadcast live on Eurosport, was the worthy conclusion to a great European Championship Final. For five continuous days the best European beach volleyball teams provided a non-stop festival on sand with Volker Popp, mayor of Timmendorfer Strand, proudly announcing the attendance: "30,000 fans experienced this unique event." Heinz Schurtenberger, Chairman of the Global Sports Marketing agency, who organises and executes the European Championship Tour for the European Volleyball Federation, was very pleased with the worldwide interest in TV-images from the EC-Final: "This European Championship Final was broadcast to 140 countries."
Also amongst the fans for the final was Manfred von Richthofen, President of the German Sports Federation, who was visibly taken by the fans' enthusiasm: "This beats almost anything that is possible in sports. Here at Timmendorfer Strand it is much more attractive than in a city like Berlin, because the sea gives it that extra atmosphere. In every respect, the European Championship Final is the best advertisement for beach volleyball."

European Championship Final

Results Men Last Sixteen

Egger/Heyer (SUI) - Scheuerpflug/Dieckmann C. (GER)

2:1

15:21, 21:14, 15:13

Deulofeu/Molinier (FRA) - Bosma/Herrera (ESP)

0:2

15:21, 19:21

Grinbergs/Stals (LAT) - Berg/Dahl (SWE)

1:2

21:18, 15:21, 13:15

Kjemperud/Hoidalen (NOR) - Klemperer/Rademacher (GER)

1:2

21:15, 16:21, 13:15

Berger/Doppler (AUT) - Maaseide/Horrem (NOR)

0:2

15:21, 16:21

Heuscher/Kobel (SUI) - Brizida/Pedrosa (POR)

2:0

21:13, 21:10

Ahmann/Hager (GER) - Canet/Hamel (FRA)

2:0

21:15, 21:16

Reckermann/Dieckmann M. (GER) - Barsuk/Arkaev (RUS)

2:0

24:22, 26:24

Results Men Quarterfinals

Egger/Heyer (SUI) - Bosma/Herrera (ESP)

2:1

17:21, 21:15, 22:20

Klemperer/Rademacher (GER) - Berg/Dahl (SWE)

2:0

21:19, 21:12

Ahmann/Hager (GER) - Reckermann/Dieckmann M. (GER)

0:2

15:21, 13:21

Maaseide/Horrem (NOR) - Heuscher/Kobel (SUI)

0:2

15:21, 14:21

Results Men Semifinals

Egger/Heyer (SUI) - Klemperer/Rademacher (GER)

2:0

30:28, 21:18

Heuscher/Kobel (SUI) - Reckermann/Dieckmann M. (GER)

0:2

16:21, 18:21

Results Men Final

Reckermann/Dieckmann M. (GER) - Egger/Heyer (SUI)

2:0

21:16, 27:25


The European Champion 2004: Markus Dieckmann and Jonas Reckermann from Germany

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.

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.

LIVE scoreboard from the stadium in Timmendorf (10.-13. June 2004): www.eurobeachtour.com -> Scoreboard

More on the web at www.cev.lu

Enjoy & Be There:
10-13 June 2004: Beach Volleyball European Championships Final, Timmendorfer Strand, Germany.
10-11 July 2004: Final Four European League, Opava, Czech Republic.
22-25 July 2004: Under 20 European Beach Volleyball Championships, Koper, Slovenia. 29 July – 1 August 2004: Under 23 European Beach Volleyball Championships, Brno, Czech Republic.
5-8 August 2004: Under 18 European Beach Volleyball Championships, Myslowice, Poland.
2 September 2004: Drawing of lots 2004-2005 Indesit European Champions’ League, Vienna, Austria.
3-11 September 2004: Women’s Under 19 European Championships, Bardejov, Presov, Slovakia.
4-12 September 2004: Men’s Under 20 European Championships, Zagreb, Croatia.
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