The Belgian Beach Volleyball Championship 2024 returns to the coast!  Dries Koekelkoren shares his enthusiasm for the location and looks ahead to the teams competing for the title.

Return to the Beach
Koekelkoren is particularly pleased that the championship is once again taking place on the Nieuwpoort promenade. "I’m very happy that we’re back on the promenade, on the beach," he says. Playing on the real sea sand, surrounded by supporters and players, gives the event a unique atmosphere, he believes. "You can also feel that many supporters and players are coming because it’s back by the sea, so that’s definitely nice."

Collaboration with the City of Nieuwpoort
The organization of the event was made possible thanks to the close collaboration with the city of Nieuwpoort. Koekelkoren praises the involvement of Heleen Debehets from the sports department and alderman for sports, Bert Gunst.

Favorites and Outsiders Among the Men
When it comes to the participating teams, Koekelkoren has a few favorites in mind. "Among the men, I think the favorites are Vandecaveye/Vandecaveye and Colson/Deroey," he notes, citing their strong performances in previous tournaments. He also sees potential in the experienced teams, especially under windy conditions. "Tom Van Walle, who plays with Matthias Blondeel, can always bring something extra, especially with his experience in the wind."
Koekelkoren also expects some surprises from outsider teams like Berre Peeters and Wout Nuyttens, who have recently performed strongly, as well as Kyan Vercauteren and Alexy Humblet.

Women: Strong Favorites and Competition
Among the women, Koekelkoren expects the duo Cools/Van den Vonder to start the championship as favorites. However, he also sees strong competition in Britt Ruysschaert and Isabel Van den Broeck, who won the Belgian championship two years ago. Additionally, the selection teams from the sports school, including Jade and Youna, as well as Ines Piret and Annelore Bex, could pose a formidable challenge. The experienced duo Els Van de Steene and Maud Catry might also deliver surprises, especially given their experience by the sea.

Outlook and Expectations
With the changing wind conditions by the sea, Koekelkoren expects this championship to bring surprises in the results. "Beach volleyball by the sea is quite different from playing inland," he emphasizes, which makes the event even more exciting.

The Belgian Beach Volleyball Championship 2024 promises to be a spectacular competition, with both established names and challengers taking their chances on the sandy shores of Nieuwpoort. Fans can look forward to a weekend full of surprises and thrilling matches.
Check out the full match schedule: https://www.belgiumbeachvolley.be/nl/calendar/527_2024/#Matches