Queen and King of the Court European Finals 2023 a ground-breaking moment

With the crowning of the Queens and Kings of the Court on Saturday night, the first major Beach Volleyball competition of an international calibre organised in Luxembourg did reach a truly fitting climax at d’Coque. The large, passionate crowd and the actions delivered by Europe’s Beach Volleyball elite rewarded the efforts of the organisers and partners after weeks filled with long days, hard work, and challenges to overcome.

The event coincided with the celebrations for the CEV’s 50th anniversary as well as with those for the 60 years since the foundation of the Luxembourg Volleyball Federation (FLVB), who joined forces to deliver the Queen and King of the Court European Finals 2023 together with promoter Sportworx and local partners and authorities. Shortly before the start of the men’s final, CEV President Aleksandar Boričić and FLVB President Norma Zambon cut a cake to mark the historic occasion for their respective organisations. The CEV and its headquarters, the real ‘home of European Volleyball’, have been based in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg since 1988 – and the anniversary is obviously a good opportunity to emphasise this special connection as well.

Ten years after the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE), an international Beach Volleyball competition was held in Luxembourg and this time it was one of a whole other league, with many of the top European teams travelling to the Grand Duchy to play at the venue constructed right by the iconic d’Coque, the National Sports and Cultural Centre in the Kirchberg district. Judging by the response of the crowd and the way they enjoyed the action as well as the party atmosphere that goes with the innovative and highly dynamic Queen and King of the Court format, there is appetite for more such events.

Earlier this week, His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg joined in as well, deserving words of appreciation for the organisers as well as for the concept of the competition, which offered the home teams a much-needed opportunity to measure themselves up against the best tandems from across the continent.

Reigning European champions in the ‘traditional’ Beach Volleyball format, Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova of Latvia further cemented their status of queens of European Beach Volleyball by claiming the women’s crown, as Clemens Wickler/Nils Ehlers enjoyed some sort of home advantage as they were cheered on by many fans that had travelled from nearby Germany to follow the men’s final.

The Queen and King of the Court European Finals 2023 can be regarded as a historic milestone in European Volleyball history, breaking new ground in many ways for the CEV, the Luxembourg Volleyball Federation, the City of Luxembourg, and all other partners involved, such as d’Coque, the Ministry of Sports and Luxembourg Let’s Make It Happen, a platform established to facilitate the promotion of the Grand Duchy, and broadcaster RTL. We can legitimately state that the Queen and King of the Court European Finals 2023 are a success story. To be continued…

Click here for further information.