In a groundbreaking event, the Erciyes Ski Resort, known for winter sports, will now host a unique beach volleyball tournament from the 11th to the 13th of August.
Organized in collaboration with the Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, the Turkey Volleyball Federation (TVF), and Kayseri Erciyes Inc., this tournament will take place on Erciyes Mountain at an altitude of 2,200 meters and will feature both domestic and international players.
Erciyes Inc. Chairman, Hamdi Elcuman, emphasized their aim to keep the Erciyes Ski Center operational throughout the year. Pointing out the attraction Erciyes holds for national teams and national league players due to its high altitude, Elcuman said, “Having organized winter volleyball tournaments traditionally, we decided to introduce a novelty. For the first time worldwide, we are organizing a beach volleyball tournament on a mountain.”
Labeling this as a “world-first”, Elcuman expressed gratitude towards TVF for their support in realizing this idea. “We are organizing a beach volleyball championship on a mountain for the first time in the world. Both domestic and foreign teams will participate in this championship. It’s a leg of the Turkey championship, but we hope to elevate it to an international level. Erciyes will continue to serve our city and region in terms of tourism and sports all year round,” he stated.
Elcuman highlighted the unique nature of this event, noting that beach volleyball is typically played at sea level. For this event, quality sand from local regions like Yeşilhisar and Sarıoğlan has been transported – amounting to 300 truckloads.
In the upcoming tournament, 16 male and 13 female teams will compete fiercely. Teams from Ukraine, Iran, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will join those from Turkey, culminating in the final showdown on 13th August.
TVF Beach and Snow Volleyball Director, Oğuz Değirmenci, emphasized the pioneering nature of playing beach volleyball on a mountain, predicting international implications. He also mentioned that the points earned in this tournament would contribute to the end-of-season individual rankings in Turkey, with the top 10 players receiving prizes totaling 300,000 Turkish lira. (AA)
