2012 has been a great year for indoor and beach in volleyball in Latvia. Therefore, we’re not surprised with such honors.
The men’s volleyball team was awarded as the “Sports Team Of The Year” due to their successful and ongoing journey to qualify for the 2013 European Championship. Latvia has NOT competed in this prestigious tournament for 17 years and it’d definitely make history if the team succeeds against Turkey.
Coach Raimonds Vilde received a special award for the success and the triumph he has achieved so far.
As for beach volleyball, 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Martins Plavins and Janis Smedins were awarded as “Best Team In Individual Sports”. The duo also attained success by winning the FIVB Sward World Tour event in Stare Jablonki, finishing as the 11th best team of 2012 in the FIVB ranking and Plavins being named as the FIVB’s “Best Defensive Player of 2012”.
Mr. Raimonds Bergmanis, chairman of Latvia’s Olympic Committee:
“This year marked a sort of re-birth for Volleyball in our country. Raimonds Vilde stands out as a role model for athletes and coaches too. He has been working also abroad but he has fully devoted his time and skills to his home country for the past few years. He is very reliable and ambitious at the same time and always ready to provide people with his advice if he is asked to do so”.
According to our source:
“Votes were casted by a jury composed by members of the Latvian Olympic Committee (LOC) Executive Board, sports managers, officials of the various national federations, journalists, experts from the sports industry as well as members of Latvia’s Sports Federation Council.”
Great to hear that Latvia is on track to take volleyball to the next level!
Congrats everyone!
(source: cev.lu/ images: fivb/ cev.lu)