MESSINA – A second exciting edition of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour – Futures ends in Messina, an international beach volleyball event organized by the Cev (Confédération Européenne de Volleyball) and Volleyball World, entrusted to the local promoter Team Volley Messina and organized in concert with the Municipality of Messina as co-organizer, Mediterranea Eventi, Triptop, the Sicily Regional Committee of Fipav and the Fipav Territorial Committee of Messina.
In the Beach Arena in Piazza Duomo, the 56 competing couples, representing 23 nations, battled during 4 intense days, offering a unique and high-level show to the large audience present, who came in large numbers throughout the event and in particular way during the evening matches, an absolute novelty of the Messina stage and unique in the entire European Future circuit, and during the final matches this afternoon, followed by a spectacular awards ceremony.
A success, therefore, which far exceeded the expectations given by last summer’s very successful edition and which rewards the efforts of the organizers in proposing some significant improvements and in taking care of every single detail, resulting in the creation of a highly populated beach village and a high-impact final awards ceremony. On the final day, the Beach Arena came alive with the Italian anthem played by the Band of the Command of the Aosta Mechanized Brigade and the “salute” of the Fire Brigade helicopter, a fundamental partner of the event, which flew over the central city square during the Mameli anthem and during the “hanging” of the Italian flag via the Aerial Ladder and the “lowering” carried out by the Fire Brigade personnel via cave-alpine-river manoeuvres.
Interview with president Alfredo Finanze
Alfredo Finanze, president of Mediterranea Eventi, dfter four days the event has come to an end, how did it go?
“Staying here, in this context and with these athletes, is an honor and a pleasure. The event went well, we respected the expectations of the athletes, national and international federation. We also managed to bring the innovations we wanted to propose, such as evening matches and the doubling of the stands. For all this we are happy.”
The couples, returning or new arrivals, were fascinated by the square. We saw many pass by and stop for a few minutes to watch the matches. Still a winning choice?
“It is one of the many reasons why this event takes place in Piazza Duomo. Even the athletes who came to the city for the first time were enthusiastic, they are used to playing most of the time on the sea on the beach, which is equally wonderful, but playing in a historic center in the main square is unique. Among other things, with the indispensable support of the firefighters we did not miss out on any service and this was perceived”.
Is it too early to ask you if there will be a third edition? In this case again in Piazza Duomo?
“It’s not early to think about the third edition. The calendar is annual, let’s just take a moment to pause and think about the future. There will be other news, but we are still evaluating them and will announce them later. Piazza Duomo again? Certainly the desire is to remain here, but there are other ideas that can be equally attractive and lend themselves equally well to representing Messina”.
