The indoor volleyball season is slowly coming to an end. Soon, once the cup finals and play-offs are completed, more and more volleyball players will head to the beach. Beach volleyball is stepping out of the shadows faster than ever and is gaining popularity across the entire country. That is why the Belgian Beach Tour is taking another step forward this summer, with Nieuwpoort once again hosting the grand finale. Dries Koekelkoren, beach volleyball coordinator at Volley Vlaanderen, gave the symbolic kick-off for the new season on the coast.

Growing ambitions
For ten days — from 6 to 16 August — part of the seawall and the sports beach at Hendrikaplein will be transformed into the heart of Belgian beach volleyball. Nieuwpoort is no longer just a casual stop, but an event that is becoming firmly anchored in the calendar. Last year, the organisers counted 70,000 spectators. This motivates alderman of Sports Wim Demeester and mayor Kris Vandecasteele to aim even higher.

These ambitions are taking concrete shape. The city and the organisers have extended their collaboration for three more years, and behind the scenes there is cautious dreaming of hosting an international event. These ambitions are becoming more realistic thanks to the recent successes of several top Belgian duos. A new generation is making itself heard — not only participating in the international beach circuit, but actually competing for medals abroad. Lente Thant, who won bronze at both the U18 European and World Championships with Simone Vervloet, and the men’s duo Vercauteren–Van Langendonck — recent winners of the Challenge tournament in India — are emerging as Belgian standouts.

Stars as a quality label
Dries Koekelkoren also announces a structural change. With a new star system, Belgian Beachvolley aims to bring order — and especially added value — to the growing number of tournaments. Notably, the story no longer stops at the language border. Wallonia is joining the national beach scene, making the circuit broader and more interesting.
By awarding these quality stars, each tournament can shape its organisation according to its own resources and ambitions. The stars — serving as a quality label — make progress and visibility clear.

With promising locations such as As, Torhout, Wolvertem, Hoevenen and Chaumont, the circuit continues to expand. Haacht and Hemiksem receive two stars for their events, while established names like Ghent, Leuven and Nieuwpoort sit in the highest category with three stars. Leuven continues a beautiful tradition by hosting an international CEV event. Good traditions deserve to be cherished.

Roadtomasters
The Belgian Beach Tour is clearly shifting up a gear, both on and off the courts. “We are investing in a fresh look, with new outfits, a renewed website — roadtomasters.be — and additional partners,” concludes Dries Koekelkoren proudly. “Moreover, the finals will be broadcast live on various media platforms via Sporza.”

Article: WV
Picture: Volley Vlaanderen