Romania steps in for Cyprus to co-host #EuroVolleyU18W together with Greece

Romania will host the Final Round of this year’s #EuroVolleyU18W together with Greece following a decision made by the CEV Board of Administration this past December. The Balkan country steps in for the Cyprus Volleyball Association, who were initially due to co-host the event scheduled for the first half of July 2024, and will welcome eight of the 16 participating teams for the pool stage and deliver the subsequent semis and medal matches as well. The matches on Romanian soil will be contested in the country’s real Volleyball ‘Mecca’, the city of Blaj – where a state-of-the-art new sports hall, which is home to CS Volei Alba, was opened this past September. The venue for the pool matches in Greece will be the National Athletic Centre Lido at Heraklion, Crete. 

This initiative follows another major milestone achieved by the Romanian Volleyball Federation this past summer, when a first age-group continental championship - #EuroBeachVolleyU22 – was held in the country and more specifically in the city of Timisoara. Moreover, Romania is among the already confirmed countries due to co-host the 2026 edition of the elite CEV EuroVolley Men, thus capitalising on the successful delivery of EuroVolley Women pool matches contested in the summer of 2021 in the city of Cluj. 

“We are especially appreciative of the readiness shown by the Romanian Volleyball Federation to step in, at such short notice, to help us and our friends and colleagues from Greece with the delivery of #EuroVolleyU18W,” said CEV President Aleksandar Boričić. “This is testament to their full commitment towards growing the next generation of Volleyball stars.” 

“We have received with great joy the CEV’s approval for organising the U18 Women’s European Championship in Romania and we are deeply thankful for the trust placed in us and the opportunity to host this tournament. This opportunity marks a crucial moment for Romanian Volleyball, as it provides us with the chance to prove our passion for this sport and to develop youth Volleyball in our country. We are determined to ensure a successful organisation of this event and to provide participants and fans with an unforgettable experience,” said the President of the Romanian Volleyball Federation, Mr Adin Marian Cojocaru. “We extend sincere thanks to CEV for the support provided and for the trust in our ability to organise such a high-profile European event. With determination and cooperation, we are ready to make this championship a remarkable and unforgettable event.”

As with all age-group European Championships since 2023, the 2024 edition of #EuroVolleyU18W will feature 16 teams – divided into two pools of eight each, with the top two from each group progressing to the semis and medal matches. Türkiye, Poland, Croatia, Belgium, and Finland have emerged victorious from the BVA, EEVZA, MEVZA, WEVZA, and NEVZA qualifiers, respectively, to secure their participation in the event together with co-hosts Romania and Greece. A second round of qualifying tournaments is scheduled for April 2024 to complete the grid of the 16 teams due to compete for continental honours in Romania and Greece. 

Italy are the reigning champions in this age group (formerly U17) after they triumphed in 2022 in Hradec Kralove, Czechia, where Türkiye and Germany completed the podium.