EEVZA stages General Assembly in Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijan Volleyball Federation hosted this past weekend for the first time ever the General Assembly of the Eastern European Volleyball Zonal Association (EEVZA). All eight member countries – i.e. Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Ukraine – were represented in the meeting which was staged this past Saturday, May 16, in the Olympic Centre located in Guba. The Vice-Presidents of EEVZA, Mr. Vladimir Patkin (RUS) and Mr. Maris Pekalis (LAT), and also the new President of the Latvian Volleyball Federation Mr. Almers Ludviks, attended the meeting. Mr. Patkin chaired the meeting and summarized the activities carried out in 2008, including the annual financial report. The final competition calendars for 2009 as well as all EEVZA Official Regulations were approved during the summit.

Last year the EEVZA celebrated a very successful season. Four Youth Championships took place in the summertime, namely the U15 girls in Russia and U17 in Ukraine, the boys U16 in Poland and U18 in Belarus. Russia won three gold medals, Poland (U18 Boys) one. For the first time all eight national teams participated in the girls U17 competition staged in Lutsk, Ukraine. The U16 (born 1994 and later) Girls Championships will be held next August 20-23, 2009 in Belarus, and the U17 Boys (born 1993 and later) are slated for November 19-22 in Poland. If there is enough interest, U18 girls and boys Championships in Beach Volleyball will be held in July in Latvia (or alternatively in Belarus).

The participants of EEVZA Assembly showed their gratitude towards the President of the Azerbaijan Volleyball Federation, Mr. Ziya Mamedov, and the local Secretary General, Mr. Elshan Ismaylov, for the excellent organization of the meeting and the great hospitality. The next meeting of EEVZA is planned for September in Izmir (Turkey) during the CEV Men's European Championships.