Hello dear friends,
My heart aches as I share this news with you. Mark van Londen, a beloved member of our footvolley community, passed away on September 2, 2024 due to illness. Born on April 15, 1970, in the Netherlands, he was a pioneer in the sport of footvolley, leaving an indelible mark on its growth and development. Mark is survived by his loving wife, Suzanna, and their daughters, Nami and Liv. His memory and legacy will forever be cherished by his family, friends, and our entire footvolley community.
A passionate player, a dedicated organizer, a creative sports marketeer and one of the founding fathers of the European Footvolley League, Mark's contributions to footvolley were immeasurable. As a player he co-founded FV Amsterdam. Internationally he represented the Netherlands and competed in prestigious tournaments around the world, including in Miami 2008 (with Erik Drenth where they met Romário de Souza Faria, in Marseille (with Marco Brutus Pot, where they reached the semi finals versus Italy), in Valencia and many more, all showcasing his drive, skills and sportsmanship.
As an event organizer and talented marketeer, Mark was instrumental in opening up countless opportunities within the footvolley community. Among his notable accomplishments were organizing the Dutch Championship in the indoor Beach in Aalsmeer and in the city of Amsterdam. Also well known was the international King of the Beach tournament in the beach stadium in Scheveningen/The Hagues. For several years, he also successfully managed the City Beach tour, bringing high level footvolley to various Dutch cities.
Last but not least, his unwavering commitment to the sport led him to become one of the founding fathers of the European Footvolley League (EFVL), paving the way for countless opportunities for players across Europe.
1st EFVL meeting in Rome, May 2015: Nick Dugdale-Moore, Erik Drenth, Carlos Coimbra, Nayden Stoyanov, Frederic Salamone, Mark van Londen, Ulli Hulsmans, Sascha Kühne and Dennis Bessel.
The EFVL tournament officials at the European Championship in Albufeira, Portugal 2017. Behind the logo: Mark van Londen and Kristoffer Aarskog.
If you do it, you will do it well
Mark was a lot more than just a sports enthusiast; he was a mentor, an inspiration to so many. His wisdom and positive spirit motivated those around him to strive for excellence. His guiding principle, "If you do it, you will do it well" resonated with all who met him. That’s why Mark is part of so many stories. It would be great if we as his footvolley family would leave a message for his family. You can leave a comment below this article, on our social media or you can use the link to the official online condolence register. The family would love to make a movie of Mark’s life so they very much welcome video messages and photos.
So what to do now, dear friends? Live our life to the fullest is what Mark would say: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” That is how I will remember him: After the tournament in Albufeira at the official boat party dancing into the setting sun.
You can see Mark at 0:33, 1:15, 1:27 and 1:49.
Follow the sun.
So long dear friend, you made an indelible impression on thousands of people. You are part of so many stories. We all rush through life as if there will always be more new experiences than memories. And suddenly we reach that turning point... always too soon and without mercy. So all we can do is to tell the good stories repeatedly and create some new ones until our time has come. Let’s follow the sun and leave a mark. Rest in peace.