Bakuriani, Georgia to host historic #EuroSnowVolleyU20 premiere

History will be made in early March (1-3) when the Georgian ski resort of Bakuriani will be playing host to the very first edition of the CEV U20 Snow Volleyball European Championships! This is the first age-group competition ever organised for the youngest and ‘coolest’ version of the Volleyball game not only in Europe but across the globe as well! With Snow Volleyball competitions run under the CEV umbrella since 2016, time has come to provide up-and-coming players with the right stage and opportunity to test their skills on the snow in a truly idyllic and iconic area of the Caucasus country! 

“With this initiative we will literally break new ground for the sport as together with the Georgian Volleyball Federation and their local partners, we will deliver the very first international Snow Volleyball competition specifically designed for young players. No other Confederation or place in the world has ever done so,” proudly says CEV President Aleksandar Boričić. “We very much hope that this event will open the door for the inclusion of Snow Volleyball, at least as an exhibition or demonstration sport, at the next edition of the European Winter Youth Olympic Festival, which Georgia and more specifically Bakuriani are due to host in 2025.” 

The delivery of #EuroSnowVolleyU20 is testament to the ambition and vision of the CEV to grow the game at all levels, and to provide a pathway for a younger generation of Snow Volleyball players to emerge and to establish themselves. Bakuriani is an ideal location where to deliver this premiere – since it did already welcome stops of the elite Snow Volleyball European Tour before the coronavirus pandemic and is a fast-growing ski resort with an impressive resume, which includes the highly successful delivery of the 2023 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships this past winter.  

“Georgia is truly honoured to host the U20 Snow Volleyball European Championships. As this will be the first time that Georgia will host such an event, it is a great opportunity to popularise Snow Volleyball in our country, especially since the competition will be taking place in the western section of Georgia, where Volleyball is a rapidly growing sport. With this great chance, our country and our people will be a part of a great event that will help grow the Volleyball family, especially among the youngsters,” said Giorgi Kartvelishvili, President of the Georgian Volleyball Federation. 

The year 2024 will be truly special for Volleyball in Georgia since later in the summer the country will be hosting #EuroBeachVolleyU18 as well in the resort of Kachreti – for what is another premiere in the area. Volleyball in Georgia is developing at a fast pace in all its forms – and the younger generations have especially achieved remarkable results, with the U17 women’s national team earlier this year historically qualifying for the Final Round of the European Championship in their age-group.