National Cup finals mobilise 45,000 fans across four European countries!

More than 10,000 fans witnessed the victories of Knack ROESELARE and Asterix Avo BEVEREN in the Belgian men’s and women’s Cup finals at the iconic Sportpaleis in Antwerp. With Belgium – and more specifically Antwerp and Brussels – hosting the final stage of this year’s CEV EuroVolley 2023 Women, volleyball fans can anticipate a great atmosphere in the stands.

More than 10,000 people attended the Belgian national cup finals in Antwerp (Photo credits: Ivan Plettinckx)

We all know that Poland is a volleyball-mad nation and another confirmation of that came on Sunday when a crowd of 15,300 came together at the majestic Tauron Arena in Krakow – where two-time CEV Champions League Volley winners Grupa Azoty Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE added another trophy to their list of honours by taking the National Cup in a 3-0 victory over their arch-rivals of JASTRZEBSKI Wegiel.

A 15,300-strong crowd watched the Polish Cup final from the stands of the Tauron Arena in Krakow (Photo credits: Piotr Sumara)

As many as 9,175 fans attended the German Cup Finals at the SAP Arena in Mannheim, with CEV President Aleksandar Boričić awarding the winners of the women’s competition – SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN – before the BERLIN Recycling Volleys triumphed in the men’s final in an ambiance that electrified all those attending on the ground as well as those watching the event from afar.

10,000 Volleyball enthusiasts came together to follow the final of the Italian men's Cup in Rome (Photo credits: Legavolley.it)

Another Volleyball ‘temple’, the Palazzetto dello Sport in Rome, provided the ideal stage for the last stage of the Italian men’s Cup Finals – where Gas Sales Bluenergy PIACENZA sensationally beat pre-favourites TRENTINO Itas before a crowd of 10,000 including Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

The President of the Italian Republic, Mr Sergio Mattarella (right), awarded the captain of the winning team, Gas Sales Bluenergy PIACENZA, Antoine Brizard (Photo credits: Legavolley.it)

Italy’s President, Mr Sergio Mattarella, has been a fan of the game for many years – attending, among other events, the women’s cup finals in January 2021 and the opening match of the 2018 Men’s World Championship – and he himself awarded the winners of the competition after receiving a spontaneous standing ovation from the audience.