Belgrade, Plovdiv, Zadar, Cluj-Napoca confirmed as EuroVolley 2021 Women host cities

CEV, Luxembourg. Belgrade, Plovdiv, Zadar and Cluj-Napoca will be playing host from August 18 to September 4 to the eagerly anticipated 2021 edition of CEV EuroVolley Women – the flagship Volleyball competition for women’s national teams run by the CEV, with participation of the top 24 teams in Europe. These four cities and their respective home countries – Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania – will be trying to repeat and even exceed the success achieved with the history-making 2019 edition of the event co-hosted by Turkey, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. 

With Serbia as the two-time defending champions, you can be sure that Belgrade is the right Volleyball ‘hotspot’ where to hold such a major competition! Serbia will be trying to use the home-court advantage as they did back in 2011 when they claimed their first European crown before a partisan home crowd in Belgrade. It is the third time in history that the Serbian capital city plays host to EuroVolley Women – after doing so in 1975 and 2011. Belgrade will host the matches of one pool, plus four 8th Final, two quarterfinal matches, the two semis and two medal matches as well. 

Plovdiv is another major Volleyball ‘hub’ in the Balkans, home to multiple national champions and Champions League Volley participants VC Maritza. Even though Bulgaria previously hosted the women’s European Championship in 1950, 1981 and 2001, Plovdiv never had the honour and privilege of welcoming the European Volleyball elite this far, with previous continental competitions held in Sofia, Varna and Pernik. Plovdiv recently delivered a Champions League ‘bubble’ which did draw very positive reviews from all involved and you can expect more of the same quality for EuroVolley Women. Plovdiv will be playing host to one pool, followed by four 8th Final and two quarterfinal matches. 

The Croatian coastal city of Zadar will experience a real Volleyball summer next year, since before EuroVolley Women comes to town, it is due to host a EuroVolley Men qualifier in May as well as the women’s FIVB Challenger Cup. Zadar, just like Plovdiv, has never hosted a Volleyball competition of such high profile before – even though Croatia hosted the 2005 edition of EuroVolley Women in Zagreb and Pula. Back in 1975, when still part of Yugoslavia, the Croatian city of Rijeka was among those to host the women’s European Championship as well. A very famous holiday destination, Zadar will for sure provide teams and fans alike with a great ambiance during EuroVolley. 

Finally, Cluj-Napoca is the venue chosen for the long-awaited return of EuroVolley to Romania, where the continental championship last took place back in 1963. The city in Transylvania has already played host to a number of international sporting events, including the Artistic Gymnastics European Championships, and EuroVolley is due to continue this success story in a country that was among the pioneers in the development of Volleyball in Europe. Both Cluj-Napoca and Zadar will be hosting one pool in the group stage of the tournament. 

“We have secured the partnership of four cities whose residents are traditionally very fond of sport in general and Volleyball more specifically,” CEV President Aleksandar Bori?i? said. “The 2021 edition of EuroVolley Women will continue the trend we set in 2019 by bringing elite Volleyball to an unprecedented number of countries, who join forces to deliver the ultimate Volleyball show and experience. I wish to thank the respective national and city authorities for their support and I hope that if we manage to bring the pandemic under control, as many foreign fans as possible will be able to travel to these cities to support their favourite teams and enjoy Volleyball of the finest level.”

News:
CEV – European Volleyball
HOS – Croatian Volleyball Federation