Slovenian coastal city of Koper will host next July the European Universities Championships in Beach Volleyball and Water Polo. In preparation of the event, inspection visit was organised to help the organisers to prepare a quality event.

Mr Adriano Paco, EUSA Technical Delegate for Beach Volleyball, verified the conditions and venues of the Beach Volleyball events. The official visit of the technical delegate to the European Universities Beach Volleyball Championship (EUC) and the event organizing team from the University Sports Association of Primorska (USZP) was held in Koper on November 11 and 12. He was welcomed by the President of Slovenian University Sports Association (SUSA) Mr Patrik Perosa, President of the Organising Committee Mr Seit Demiri and representative of the University of Primorska Mr Blaz Ceklic.



The tour started at the central square of the town of Koper, which will be the venue for the ceremonial opening of the championship. A visit to the nearby Praetorian Palace followed, to check the monumental historic hall, where the draw and the general technical meeting of all segments of the EUC will take place just before the start of the competition.

Then the technical delegate Mr Paco and the representatives of the organizing committee of the championship visited the municipality of Koper, where a protocol meeting with the Deputy Mayor Mr Peter Bolčič took place. Only a few steps away was the next stop - at the headquarters of the University of Primorska, where the Vice-Rector Mr Boris Kavur meet the guests and the hosts. During both meetings, the strong connection between the city of Koper and the University of Primorska with the various aspects of sport was stressed.



From the center of the old part of the town of Koper, the group went on foot only a few minutes away to the venue of the competitions that will be held at the playgrounds in the new beach volley park. There, the delegate examined all the objects in detail, since the size and number of playgrounds could significantly influence the system and, consequently, the schedule of the competition.

In a conversation with Mr Jasmin Cuturic, responsible for the competition part at the EUC from the organising committee, the technical delegate checked the various options for the execution of the matches at the event and decided the location of the central playground for the EUC Koper 2019 where the finals will be held.



The inspection continued with the visit to the new official office of the organizing committee of the EUC, where next summer the meetings of the competition committee and the press center will be held. There the numbers of needed volunteers for the end of July 2019 were discussed. At the end of the visit, the delegate also checked the locations where the teams, judges and other personnel of the championship will be accommodated.

Mr Paco was satisfied with what he saw and gave some recommendations for future preparation. Also the organizing committee of the European Universities Beach Volleyball Championship Koper 2019 was pleased as well, because after the suggestions of the technical delegate now we know in details, which are the things still needing to be done. Inspection visit for the Water Polo championship is to follow shortly.



The European Universities Beach Volleyball Championship will be held July 21-26, 2019 in conjunction with the European Universities Water Polo Championship. Registration opens in December. Please see https://koper2019.eusa.eu for details.