NEWS
It's coming home
We're back, baby! United we play - again. And what better place to restart than where it all began: in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany. From August 6th - 8th the top 16 male teams will compete for the 5th Sparkassen European Footvolley Championship 2021.
We're back, baby! United we play - again. And what better place to restart than where it all began: in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany. From August 6th - 8th the top 16 male teams will compete for the 5th Sparkassen European Footvolley Championship 2021.
In 2016 we hosted the first official European Footvolley Championship in the German town of Schwäbisch Gmünd. Now after a Covid-19 break of over 1 year this traditional footvolley hotspot invites us to host the 5th Sparkassen European Footvolley Championship. Our answer was simple: If anyone can do this in a short time, with respect to all safety and corona restrictions, it's Schwäbisch Gmünd.
So our deepest gratitude goes out to the organization, the city hall and the sponsors for making this possible in such short notice. We are returning home to our birthplace at Playa de Gamundia.
#unitedweplay
Host city for European Footvolley Championship 2018 is Graz, Austria
We are pleased to announce that the host city for the European Footvolley Championship 2018 is Graz, Austria. It will take place in the city center, Hauptplatz Graz, between June 6th and June 9th.
We are pleased to announce that the host city for the European Footvolley Championship 2018 is Graz, Austria. It will take place in the city center, Hauptplatz Graz, between June 6th and June 9th.
Graz has hosted big footvolley tournaments for many years and we are excited to see what Graz has to offer us come June. Footvolley Austria has a lot of good players and they work a lot to recruit new players and make the sport visible in Austria.
A quick comment from the president of Footvolley Austria:
“We are proud to be the host of the major tournament in Europe this year. Although we have organized an international event each year since 2012, this time it will be something special, not only because it will be the 2018 main event in Europe, but also because we wil be able to have the event right in the center in Graz in front of the city hall.”
He continues: "The city of Graz and the team of Footvolley Austria is already excited to welcome Europe's best teams this summer. Apart from the offcial competition, there will also be a training camp for players from all over Europe to meet, train together and be part of the European Footvolley Championship 2018".
You do not want to miss this!
This is the third European Footvolley Championship and it has previously been arranged in Schwäbisch Gmund, Germany (2016) and Albufeira, Portugal (2017). In 2016 France took the title just ahead of Portugal, and in 2017 it was the other way around; Portugal won in an exciting final against France.
EFVL President Ulli Hulsmans is very pleased and has a long history playing footvolley in Graz.
“Graz feels like a 2nd home to me since my first footvolley partner Jan-Pieter Martens (ex-Sturm Graz) introduced me to this lovely city.”
More info about location, tournament structure and media package will be be available soon.
Congratulations Graz, and all footvolley fans.
Are you coming?
European Footvolley League officially incorporated under Swiss law
The European Footvolley League (EFVL) was officially incorporated under Swiss law on Sunday 26th of November at Hotel Schweizerhof in Lucerne.
The European Footvolley League (EFVL) was officially incorporated under Swiss law on Sunday 26th November at Hotel Schweizerhof in Lucerne.
Representatives from eleven of the thirteen member countries (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain Switzerland & the UK) were in attendance and co-signed the agreed EFVL Statutes and minutes of this first Congress which took place on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th November 2017.
Executive Committee
The President of the EFVL for the next two years is Ulli Hulsmans (Belgium) supported by Vice-President Carlos Coimbra (Portugal) and Chief Executive of Finance Erik Drenth (Netherlands) who head up a seven man Executive Committee.
About EFVL
The EFVL was founded in Rome in May 2015 with a mission to grow and promote footvolley throughout Europe. It now comprises thirteen member countries with others poised to join and the official incorporation as a legal body in Switzerland will help the EFVL engage with partners and develop the sport at a continental level. At the 1st EFVL Congress in Lucerne various departments were established to look after the main activities of the EFVL going forward, including Sports Development (grassroots), Marketing and Competitions.
The host
Many thanks to Paul Winiker and the city of Lucerne for hosting the delegates of the EFVL, including a visit to the oldest footvolley club in the world, the Lido Lucerne, where footvolley has been played since 1935.
Graz host city for the EFC 2018
The EFVL has chosen the city of Graz in Austria as host city for the 3rd edition of the European Footvolley Championship in 2018.
For a few weeks the rumors have been growing, but today we are proud to make it official. The EFVL has chosen the city of Graz in Austria as host city for the 3rd edition of the European Footvolley Championship in 2018.
This decision is based on the strong case the Austrian Footvolley Federation built in which they demonstrate their motivation and vast experience in organising with a keen eye for every detail. We strongly believe Graz will be a worthy successor in line with the great host cities Schwäbisch Gmünd in 2016 and Albufeira in 2017.
The Austrian Footvolley Federation has a long history of organising international tournaments; 2017 marks the eighth in Austria, the last six being held in the city of Graz. The best players from Brazil and across Europe have enjoyed the hospitality of Graz, the second biggest city of Austria, located in the southern part of the country. Since the first event in 2009, the players have developed a strong affinity with the residents of this beautiful and lively city and look forward to this highlight of the international footvolley calendar.
The event location will be the main square of Graz in the heart of the old city Centre, one of the most beautiful locations in Austria receiving more than 100.000 visitors per month. Around the event location, there will be a stadium and an event village. Apart from the main event, plans are made to have a whole week packed with various footvolley events including a women’s and a youth competition as well as workshops and tryouts for school classes and football clubs, an exhibition with the presence of former football players and a training camp.
An official press conference will be held later this year.
City of Albufeira to host 2017 European Footvolley Championship
The official announcement of the host city for the 2017 European Footvolley Championship was made today, and the honor goes to Albufeira, Portugal.
The official announcement of the host city for the 2017 European Footvolley Championship was made today (monday 13th of february 2017), and the honor goes to Albufeira, Portugal.
Update about Footvolley in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio
On April 4th 2016 rumours began about footvolley being included as a demo sport in the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. These rumours have of course provoked a lot of excitement and talk in the footvolley community.
On Monday April 4th the global footvolley community worldwide received exciting news.
The Brazilian Senator and great ambassador for our beloved sport, Romario Faria, posted a message stating:
“We will have Footvolley during the Olympics and Paralympics this year. But please remain calm. It will be more of a cultural event and not an official competition. Nevertheless it will be an excellent opportunity to present Footvolley to the world.”
The photo shows seven men standing side by side. At the center, profile Romario and Nuzman.
Romario and several Brazilian Footvolley representatives had a meeting with the president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, Carlos Arthur Nuzman. They received confirmation that a Footvolley event will take place from 25-28 August. In the spirit of the Olympics there will be games for men, women and under 20.
The Olympic Games will be held 5-21 August 2016 and the Paralympics will be held 7-18 September. That means that the tournament will be held in the period between the Olympics and the Paralympics in the main Beach Volleyball arena. More meetings will follow to determine all the details.
The role of EFVL
The news was released on April 4th and we already have EFVL ambassadors present in Rio to meet with the various stakeholders and offer support as necessary. The first impression is that everybody has a lot of questions. In fact, the people involved are swamped with questions from all over the world. Therefore we would like to ask everybody to be patient.
A question everybody is asking is which teams will play in this tournament? This, of course, has not yet been decided but the EFVL will elaborate on this matter as soon as we know more.
We are all thrilled to see that things are happening and it will help promote the sport we ♥. The visibility of such an event would be a blessing to our sport. But first and foremost we need to build the foundations in each country, get organized and unite as one footvolley community. The EFVL will continue this work regardless of the results of this matter.
More on this topic coming soon...
Press release: Title sponsor for European Footvolley Championship
1st European Footvolley Championship takes place in Schwäbisch Gmünd (Germany), 2-5 June 2016.
1st European Footvolley Championship takes place in Schwäbisch Gmünd (Germany), 2-5 June 2016.
Having staged two successful Sparkassen Footvolley Cups in 2014 and 2015, the German Footvolley Association together with the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd applied to host the European Footvolley Championship in 2016. This application was submitted at the 2nd European Footvolley League meeting in October 2015 in Albufeira (Portugal).
The amazing support of city hall, the great location in the center of the city and the overwhelming enthusiasm of the audience were the main reasons why the European Footvolley League decided to host the 1st European Footvolley Championship in Schwäbisch Gmünd (Germany).
Furthermore the German Association submitted a positive financial plan. Two more reasons for choosing the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd were the high quality of the infrastructure and the warm hospitality for the footvolley players.
Sparkasse becomes the Title Sponsor of the European Footvolley Championship.
Sparkasse was already the Title Sponsor of the Footvolley Cup 2015 in Schwäbisch Gmünd. On the 22nd of December Holger Kreuttner, the press officer of Kreissparkasse Ostalb, announced the possibility of another Title Sponsorship if the official European Footvolley Championship (EFC) would take place in Schwäbisch Gmünd in 2016.Therefore, the 1st EFC will be called:
SPARKASSEN EUROPEAN FOOTVOLLEY CHAMPIONSHIP 2016
January 15th 2016 - Germany – Schwäbisch Gmünd
Photo: Jens Schamberger
Download press release in PDF (414 kb)
