After the soccer players and the basketball players, the volleyball players started playing again. With a unique concept.
Munich - "There will only be football and basketball in the next four weeks," said Herbert Hainer, President of FC Bayern, on Sunday on Bavarian television. Indeed, the Bundesliga has resumed "special game operations" since May 16, and the basketball players will start their championship tournament on Saturday. However, Hainer has forgotten a sport that flies under the radar more often in Germany.
The newly founded "Beach League" takes place from June 13 to July 12 and gives the best beach volleyball players in Germany the opportunity to play for a title. "The idea had been dormant in me for a long time," says co-organizer Alex Walkenhorst. In recent weeks, he has developed a concept with athlete spokesman Daniel Wernitz and Constantin Adam (manager of the duo Karla Borger / Julia Sude) in collaboration with the sports city of Düsseldorf that meets the hygiene regulations .
The game takes place in the Merkur-Arena in Düsseldorf. Like the basketball players, the athletes are accommodated in a hotel near the arena. In cooperation with the health partner Cerascreen, the athletes are regularly tested for the Corona virus a week before and also during the competitions. There is one league for each of the men's and women's duos, in which eight teams compete. The top four teams then qualify for a final four final tournament.
“Since the Olympic gold by Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann, there has been talk of a volleyball boom in Germany. You don't notice that in the prize money and sales, ”says Walkenhorst. The 31-year-old made a conscious decision to structure a league. His sport is currently perceived too much as an event that pops up here and there but has no permanent presence.
Walkenhorst likes to break new ground. And announces it loudly: “When people do something just because they always did it, it makes me angry. You have to be open to innovations. ”The Beach League is broadcast on the streaming platform“ Twitch ” . All games can be followed free of charge without registration. The organizers rely primarily on the interactive character: During the stream, fans can chat in a live chat, take part in votes and ask the players direct questions after the games.
Walkenhorst is certain that this is the future of sports broadcasting. The sports soldier is based on the e-athletes who also broadcast their competitions via Twitch. The streaming platform was enthusiastic about the idea and offered full support. The German Volleyball Association is also behind the league: "In terms of media, we definitely see an opportunity to give beach volleyball a boost and to establish itself as one of the great sporting highlights in summer 2020", says sports director Niclas Hildebrand.
Walkenhorst has hardly slept in the past few weeks. That will not change for the time being either. He is currently still looking for sponsors. The basic budget is there, but money cannot be afforded yet. From June 13, he will then participate in the league with partner Sven Winter.
NICO-MARIUS SCHMITZ
