Today at the Luzhniki Small Sports Arena the World League finals will start. For the first time, our country has been entrusted with hosting the most prestigious commercial tournament of the world's leading volleyball teams.
Applications for the organization of the tournament were submitted by Japan and Italy. The competition was closed, but the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) gave preference to the Russians. "Why? - the Director General of the All-Russian Volleyball Federation Stanislav Shevchenko slyly squints. - We just have a very good relationship with the FIVB. And from a financial point of view, our proposal was not inferior to competitors. ”
Running in conditions close to combat, the Small Sports Arena was held during the qualification matches of the Russian team with Italians. Then there was truly African heat in the hall. However, now all problems are fixed. Just in case, additional air conditioners were installed. “We tried to equip the hall with all the best, including coverage,” says Valentin Zhukov, First Vice President of the All-Russian Federation of Warfare. In order to entertain the public, in between parties, the organizers invited a support group of pretty girls. As well as a charming host with a set of competitions for the audience.
The total prize pool of the tournament is $ 20 million. The winner will get one million, the second winner will receive 250 thousand. “Such awards should significantly increase the motivation of teams,” says Stanislav Shevchenko. The remaining money will be divided between all 16 participants in the World League. In addition, special prizes will go to the best final players in their roles. The organizers have already spent almost a million dollars on competition advertising. “We expect all the matches to have a full room,” they say. Quite affordable ticket prices, which amount to 100-300 rubles, should also contribute to this.
According to experts, the Brazilian national team will become the main rival of the Russians. The wizards of the ball are considered the strongest team on the planet; it is no coincidence that they have won the World League for the last three years in a row.
Russians will play with Serbs and French
The world’s top prize is claimed by the 6 best national teams. The sextet was made up of the Russian national team (as a mistress), the teams of Serbia and Montenegro, Brazil, France, Bulgaria, who won in four qualifying groups, and the Italian national team - the owner of a wild card. The participants are divided into two groups, of which the first two teams each reach the semifinals. Group E was made up of Russia, Serbia and Montenegro and France, while group F will play Brazil, Bulgaria and Italy.