Wagrain to host first international Snow Volleyball events since pandemic outbreak

CEV, Luxembourg. The Austrian ski resort of Wagrain-Kleinarl will be hosting in mid and late February the first two stops of this year’s CEV Snow Volleyball European Tour and in doing so help resume Snow Volleyball international competition after the long hiatus caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020.

The European Tour will return to Wagrain for two events on consecutive weekends – February 19-21 and 26-28 – and there could not be any better place for the actual resumption of Snow Volleyball competition since the Austrian resorts is the real ‘birthplace’ of the sport. 

Wagrain is indeed where Snow Volleyball unofficial competition started more than 10 years ago and since 2016, the village has continuously been playing host to events held under the umbrella of the CEV and FIVB. Moreover, Wagrain hosted the inaugural Snow Volleyball European Championships in March of 2018 – as well as the very first stop of the FIVB Snow Volleyball World Tour a year later, thus cementing its status of Snow Volleyball stronghold and ‘Mecca’ for all those who love this young and dynamic sport. 

Wagrain made history in 2018 by hosting the first edition of the CEV Snow Volleyball European Championships 

In order to aid the return of international competition, the CEV Board of Administration approved this past November a relief package including a € 2,500 financial support provided to European Tour event organisers as well as a travel allowance of € 300 per participating team. Moreover, the CEV BoA accepted to waive the license fee exceptionally for the 2021 season.

Last year, Austria did not play host to any international Snow Volleyball competition since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic resulted in an abrupt end to the 2020 season. However, promoters Chaka2 and the Austrian Volleyball Federation, who have been the pioneers of Snow Volleyball on the international stage, are poised for the return of the European Tour to such an iconic location and look forward to two action-packed weekends on the snow!  

Registration is now open for all teams wishing to participate in the first CEV Snow Volleyball competition of the year 2021. 

The CEV continues to liaise with other National Federations and event promoters in order to deliver more international Snow Volleyball events this winter while monitoring the development of the pandemic, the resulting restrictions and keeping the safety and well-being of all involved as its top priority. To this extent, the CEV developed and published back in November specific Hygiene Guidelines designed to provide a safe environment for the delivery of Snow Volleyball competitions in times of coronavirus pandemic.

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CEV – European Volleyball