Brno, Czech Republic. After a small number of their players tested positive for the novel coronavirus shortly upon arrival in the Czech Republic, in compliance with the health protocols set by the local authorities, the national teams of Turkey and Ukraine have had to withdraw from the 2020 edition of #EuroVolleyU20M due to commence on Saturday in Brno and Kurim, Czech Republic.
This was obviously not an easy decision to take, but with the health of everyone associated with the tournament as the top priority, there was no other choice than to respect the very strict protocols in place to curb any further spread of the novel virus.
With four teams left in Pool II, the Jury and the local Organising Committee have liaised with all delegations on site in order to re-arrange the programme of the group stage of the competition.
This now reads as follows:
Saturday, September 26
16:00 Russia vs Belarus in Brno and Italy vs Belgium in Kurim
18:30 Poland vs Serbia in Brno and Czech Republic vs France in Kurim
Sunday, September 27
16:00 Germany vs The Netherlands in Brno and Italy vs Poland in Kurim
18:30 Belgium vs France in Brno and Serbia vs Czech Republic in Kurim
Monday, September 28
15:30 France vs Serbia in Kurim
16:00 Poland vs Belgium in Brno
18:10 Czech Republic vs Italy in Kurim
18:30 The Netherlands vs Belarus in Brno
Tuesday, September 29
Rest day
Wednesday, September 30
16:00 Italy vs France in Brno and Belgium vs Serbia in Kurim
18:30 Germany vs Russia in Brno and Poland vs Czech Republic in Kurim
Thursday, October 1
15:00 France vs Poland in Kurim
16:00 Belarus vs Germany in Brno
17:30 Serbia vs Italy in Kurim
18:30 Russia vs The Netherlands in Brno
20:00 Czech Republic vs Belgium in Kurim
The revised schedule is the result of an intensive exchange of views and negotiations with all teams in order to reach a mutual agreement and find a reasonable solution under these truly exceptional circumstances and in the shortest possible time.
The competition format does not change with the top two teams from each pool progressing to the semis and medal matches, and the no. 3 and no. 4 from each group due to contest the classification matches 5-8. The fifth and sixth-placed teams from Pool I – which still features six squads – will be leaving the competition after completion of the pool stage.
The CEV wishes to thank the local organisers as well as all participating teams for their understanding, cooperation and flexibility they have shown in coping with this unfortunate situation, while wishing a speedy recovery to the Turkish and Ukrainian players who have contracted the coronavirus.
Source:
CEV – European Volleyball
