HOME GAME FOR SIMONE KUHN AND LEA SCHWER

Nestea European Championship Tour 2005

2004 European Champion Simone Kuhn lives in Lucerne, where the Swiss Open of the Nestea European Championship Tour will take place

Luxembourg/Lucerne, August 5, 2005. Such a short trip between home and work is unusual for Beach Volleyball professionals who are constantly circling the globe for their next tournament. Simone Kuhn, the Swiss national star, has lived in Lucerne for the past 15 years where the third tournament of the Nestea European Championship Tour 2005 will take place from 6th to 9th August 2005.

“It takes around ten minutes on foot from my apartment to centre court”, Simone Kuhn says. The 24 year-old will therefore stay the nights at home “because you always sleep best in your own bed”. Her partner Lea Schwer (23), who lives in Riehen, will be staying in the players’ hotel.

Their successful career started this season with 13th place at the World Championships in Berlin, 7th place in the world ranking list, 7th at the Turkish Open at the start of the Nestea European Championship Tour 2005. “That was our first tournament together”, Simone Kuhn says and was surprised “that we already played pretty well there. But not well enough”, she adds self-critically. They still need a few good results in order to attract attention. Swiss women’s Beach Volleyball is not yet as popular as the men’s who boast three teams in the top ten of the world ranking list. “We are still lacking that competitive edge”, Simone Kuhn says but adds that there are a number of potential teams but none that invests as much as we do.

2004 was her best year so far playing in the Olympic Games in Athens (19th place) and winning the Final of the European Championship Tour at Timmendorfer Strand with her former partner Nicole Schnyder-Benoit. After Athens the liaison with Lea Schwer began in which Kuhn is the more experienced. Although she is only 15 months older “I have to take on more responsibility and I am expected to make fewer mistakes.” The roles on the court have not yet been clearly defined. Both women are unusually tall for Beach Volleyball players with Kuhn measuring 1.84m and Schwer 1.82m, thus they are currently sharing the duties on court. “We are both playing all positions at the moment: block, offence, return and defence.” A specialisation will follow in the future. The Swiss’ versatility makes it more difficult for their opponents to analyse the team and prepare for matches.

Kuhn/Schwer are hoping to finish in the top four at the Swiss Open 2005 of the Nestea European Championship Tour, which “is not unrealistic considering our current development.” A success in front of her home crowd would be an important confirmation, especially for Simone Kuhn. “We still need to build a name for ourselves and the tournament in Lucerne would be a good start.”

The women’s qualification tournament will start on Saturday morning, 6th August 2005 at 09.00hrs at the ‘Kriens Sport- und Freizeitanlagen Kleinfeld’. The first match on Centre Court of the KKL Europaplatz in Lucerne will be staged on Saturday night, 6th August 2005 at 23.00hrs following the spectacular fireworks of the Lucerne Seenachtsfest.

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Background information on the NESTEA European Championship Tour

The NESTEA 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 NESTEA 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 NESTEA 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 NESTEA 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 8970.