Thessaloniki started the countdown for the FIVB Volleyball World League Pool G matches on June 19 to 21
Thessaloniki, Greece, May 27, 2015 – Key officials were present at a press conference ahead of the FIVB Volleyball World League in Thessaloniki was held to officially start the countdown for Pool G matches on June 19 to 21 at the Alexandrio Melathro Stadium, where the Greek team will make its comeback after a 10-year absence in the competition.
Achilleas Mavromatis, president of the Hellenic Volleyball Federation, was joined by Thessaloniki Mayor Giannis Boutaris, Mr John Spanoudakis from Stoiximan.gr, official sponsor of the Greek national teams, Mr Periklis Bakodimos, director of the national federation, and coach Sotiris Drikos and captain Dimitris Tzourits.
“Thessaloniki is a city which loves volleyball and prove so once again, just like it did last season in the European League home matches, as well as the World League matches in the past,” Mavromatis said. “I hope that fans will give boost to the Greek players, who will do their best (in the competition). Moreover, I am happy to announce that FIVB President Dr. Ary Graca, accepted our invitation and will honour the games with his presence, a fact which gives extra prestige to this event.”
The city of Thessaloniki will be seeing more volleyball because of the World League after their club have conquered major titles this year.
“This is a very good year for Thessaloniki volleyball, as PAOK won both Greek Championship and Greek Cup, and now we have the pleasure to host the upcoming World League matches,” Mayor Boutaris said.
The official sponsor of the Greek teams, Stoiximan.gr, have expressed their full support for Greece’s comeback to the World League and mentioned about a relevant campaign during the competition.
“We fully support the men’s and women’s teams of Greece,” Spanoudakis said. “We will support the comeback of the men’s team in the World League. We also strive for social awareness and this is why we will promote an anti-bullying campaign during the competition.”
The World League matches in Thessaloniki is a perfect occasion to gather and promote the sport to the local community. The national federation has planned many activities as sidelights for the competition.
“From June 19 to 21, we aim to transform Thessaloniki into a city of volleyball, through a number of event,” national federation director Bakodimos said. “During that weekend, we will host a mini volleyball tournament in Aristotelous Square and we believe more than 1,000 children from local clubs and academies will attend and participate. In addition, there will be an international coaches seminar and many visits of the Greek players to schools, in order to inform the students about the World League matches.”
Greece captain Tzourits and coach Drikos are both confident that the World League will bring something positive for their team.
“Participating in this group of the World League is a good start for this team,” Tzourits said. “I am very optimistic. I believe in ourselves and I am certain that we will have a great summer, just as we had last year too.”
“Our goal is to create a solid group of players and to have a successful participation, in order to achieve a higher ranking and therefore a better draw in view of the European Championship qualifiers, which will start in September 2016,” coach Drikos said. “By then, we aim to create a team which will be taller, more experienced and fully competitive, in order to play well and qualify to the European Championship finals.
“The reality is that we have a young and good team, with players who are now starting to gain some international experience. However, it is also true that we have been absent from the top level of volleyball for a decade, while our opponents, China and Mexico, were both present at the recent (FIVB Volleyball Men's) World Championship.”