Greek national champions crowned in downtown Athens

For the fourth time overall and the third straight year, an event scheduled for the Greek Beach Volleyball National Championships was organised at the iconic Syntagma Square in Athens. However, this time around the stakes were higher than usual, as this year the city square played host to the final stage of the domestic circuit.  

With the event organised from July 17-21 amidst high temperatures, the impressive venue, set up in the shade provided by the square’s generous greenery, remained consistently full throughout the course of the competition. Situated in front of Greece’s national parliament building in the busiest section of Athens, this year’s event guaranteed maximum exposure and attention, with hundreds flocking every day to see who would be crowned national champions.

On the women’s side, Liza Triantafyllidi and Dimitra Manavi wrote history by becoming the first team ever to sweep all Masters tournaments in one season, with both players earning the title of national champion for the second time in their careers. 

The men’s title was claimed by Adiol Kola and Vangelis Sideris, the first such accolade for each player. Sideris, a former national rowing champion in his youth, finished what is just his second year in the sport, after having made the drastic switch from rowing to Beach Volleyball.

A charity match dedicated to raising awareness to beach sitting volleyball was also held, among many other notable events and initiatives.