Volleyball Euro 2007 will be held in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Russia has never hosted volleyball competitions of such a level. The exact dates of the tournament (it will be held from September 6 to 16) and its rules are determined. At the preliminary stage, 16 teams are divided into four groups. Groups A and C will play in St. Petersburg at the Yubileiny Sports Palace, and groups B and D in Moscow at the Olimpiysky sports complex. Last weekend in the Russian capital in the presence of the entire European volleyball elite was held the championship toss.
For the past twenty years, European championships have been held once every two years. Until recently, 12 teams fought for old-world gold, but starting from the Moscow-St. Petersburg championship there will be four more. Participants in Euro 2007 were determined in two ways. Six of the best national teams received vouchers based on the results of Euro 2005. This six includes Italy, Serbia, Spain, Poland, Greece and France. Nine more teams went through the qualification stage and thus acquired trips to Russia - these are Belgium, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Croatia, Holland, Slovenia, Germany and Finland. Total 15 plus Russia as a mistress.
The draw process itself did not take much time. In about 30 minutes, the member of the administrative board of the European Volleyball Confederation, the Luxembourger Pierre Mülheim, sorted the teams into subgroups, identifying the teams of Poland, Turkey and Belgium as rivals to the Russians.
The championship will be held according to a formula reminiscent of the one that basketball players regularly use in major tournaments. The first stage of the team will be held in subgroups of four. The first three places from each subgroup form two groups of six teams, with preliminary results taken into account. And finally, the two best teams from these groups will play medals.
European Volleyball Championship
Final Stage Draw
Group A Group B
Serbia Russia
Greece Poland
Holland Turkey
Germany Belgium
Group C Group D
Spain Italy
France Croatia
Slovakia Bulgaria
Slovenia Finland
VALERY WINGURT