Olsztyn will be the foretaste of the Olympic Games!
Olsztyn, Poland, March 31, 2016 - a press conference was held at the scenic Ukiel lake port conference center, to officially announce the details of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Warmia Mazury Grand Slam Olsztyn 2016. All parties were convinced about one thing: after last year’s tournament success, this time the whole beach volleyball world will be thrilled to see Olsztyn Grand Slam.
Paweł Papke, Polish National Federation President: I am very happy about such a great media interest. I would like to thank the authorities who engaged so deeply in organizing this event and promoting the region of Warmia and Masuria. We all know that Grand Slam is a fantastic promotion of our region, but also of beach volleyball and Polish Volleyball Federation.
Gustaw Marek Brzezin, Marshall of Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship: My thanks go to the Polish Volleyball Federation for holding this event in Olsztyn. What happened in Stare Jabłonki for 11 years had its own unique atmosphere, but here we’ve got a kind of new opening with new infrastructure and many changes visible in Olsztyn which should be shown. That’s why setting the tournament here was a good choice. I was present at the majority of the last year’s event and I think it looked wonderful. The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive and since it all went so well at the first tournament, it’s only going to be better and better, so as a region we will give all our support to this enormous event.
Piotr Grzymowicz, Mayor of Olsztyn: All of us here are connected with Warmia and Masuria and once again have a possibility of organizing such a splendid event – the beach volleyball tournament of the most prestigious level. This is a great promotion of our city, region and country and we can be proud of that. The local fans, citizens and businesses have a reason to be happy as well . A lot of people who came here last year could make use of the offer prepared by the city. This year will not be different. Sports level is guaranteed as the tournament is taking place before the Olympic Games. The best players will come and we will again have a chance to witness some great matches. It makes us happy because there are not many such events in the world, let alone our city. We have the potential – the new infrastructure – and we are prepared to undertake this challenge side by side with our great partners: the Polish Volleyball Federation, the Marshall’s Office and the smaller partners who support us.
Jacek Kasprzyk, Vice President of Polish Volleyball Federation for Sport and Coaching, Professional Volleyball League President: It’s a beautiful place and wonderful time this year: the tournament will be held in June and everybody will come before the summer holidays to watch the Olympic duos perform. I hope the whole elite will be here and all Rio-qualified pairs will come, making the Olsztyn tournament a foretaste of the Olympic Games. Three Polish duos who are already 99% sure to participate in the Olympic Games (Mariusz Prudel with Grzegorz Fijałek, Piotr Kantor with Bartosz Łosiak and Monika Brzostek with Kinga Kołosińska) have just played a great tournament in Rio earning an almost sure spot at the Olympics. Even we were surprised with this outcome. We counted on two duos and here we have three. Two or three years ago, not many specialists counted on Polish woman duo, but we did. Starting from 2012 we organized identical coach staff for both men’s and women’s duo, Polish Volleyball Federation paid for everything, now the girls repaid the effort - they will go to the Olympics and represent Poland there. Olsztyn surely has contributed to these sport results. A four-season beach volleyball training hallis the reason why all our Orlen Team duos practiced in Olsztyn. Thank you for that and we promise that this hall will not be empty. Volleyball has always been the No. 1 team sport In Olsztyn – we owe this city our thanks.
Jerzy Mróz, the President of Warmian-Mazurian Volleyball Association: When the idea of setting Grand Slam in Olsztyn for the second time was discussed at the PVF Board meeting, everybody raised their hands showing support. What can be more beautiful than everybody showing support for the city you come from? I am really proud of what we did here and for being able to be part of this event.
Rafał Pośpiech, the Tournament Director: This is the best place for beach volleyball in our country. I am sure that all best duos will come to Olsztyn and it will be their signpost on the beach volleyball map. While talking about this year changes, they are mostly connected with the tribunes’ constructions. The tribune will have about 4200 seats - 200 more than last year. We also want to change place of animations and additional activities. Next to the courts number 2 and 3, there will be another tribune with a capacity of 700 seats. It will also be naturally composed into the surrounding forest. There are not many places like that around the world, so we decided to use the beautiful scenery. Tickets will be available for sale in two weeks.