Berlin to host the 2010 European Championship Final at the o2 World

Beach Volleyball - European Championship Tour

Berlin/Zurich, December 21, 2009. The anticipation is great and all Beach Volleyball die-hard fans can look forward to a real treat next year: the stars of the continental scene will resume to Berlin through August 11-15 for the European Championship Final. The venue is also clear now: many tons of sand will be piled up in the charming scenario of the o2 World where athletes will serve and spike for awards and medals.
For the German Volleyball Federation the European Championship Final is a chance to extend its great 2009 run to the new year with the advantage of playing on home soil. President Werner von Moltke is pleased: "Our teams once again have the opportunity to show their ability to compete in their own country. So far there has been always a title for Germany at home European Championship finals”.
Hinnerk Femerling, Managing Director Operations at the Zurich based agency Global Sports Marketing (GSM) and responsible for the European Championship Tour, confirms that shortly before the end of the year all major agreements have been finalized in the German capital. Among other things, smart has secured the naming rights of the European Championship Final. "We are proud to have created the framework for a great event," said Femerling.
The European Championship Final powered by smart in the heart of the continent - a good fit. Hardly any other location in Europe can look back on such a great tradition when it comes to this sandy sport: many Grand Slams and other tournaments of the World Tour have been held at various locations in the German capital and each time the response of the audience was overwhelming. The peak surely was the 2005 World Championship, when a massive public lined up to grab one of the coveted seats on the centre court. Réné Hecht, President of the organizing Volleyball Federation in Berlin also expresses his delight: "We are thrilled to be able to offer once again a real summer highlight to the Beach Volleyball fans of Berlin."
The past German Masters 2009 powered by smart in Berlin was one of the big highlights of this year's European Championship Tour. Next August, Julius Brink is sure that it will be still much hotter at the European Championship Final. The World champion who lines up with partner Jonas Reckermann for the VC Olympia Berlin and thus has a home game at the European Championship Final venue, is using the outlook to already challenge the defending champions Reinder Nummerdor and Richard Schuil of the Netherlands: "The European Championship Final in Berlin is the absolute athletic climax of the year 2010. All our planning is aligned to this date." The veterans Nummerdor/Schuil and all other top teams in Europe should be warned. Whoever wants to stand on top of the podium in Berlin must first pass the local heroes.

For more information visit www.eurobeachtour.com