Every Beach Volleyball pro has his favourite spot where he likes to plough through the sand more than anywhere else in the world. Most of the time it is the site of their greatest success or the best atmosphere. Okka Rau, German national star, revealed her favourite spot as a Beach Volleyball player this week at a press conference in Hamburg: “The Rathausmarkt in Hamburg is my favourite spot to play.” No wonder: She won gold there at the German Masters with her partner Stephanie Pohl in 2006 and silver there last year. Okka Rau will soon again be able to play for attractive prize money and ranking list points in front of the historic setting because the Rathausmarkt is the venue for this year’s NESTEA European Championship Final from 10-13 July. The highest ranked European Beach Volleyball tournament series will be in the Hanseatic city for the third time. This time 32 men’s and women’s teams will be fighting for the European championship crowns and qualification points for the Olympic games in Beijing. Whether Pohl/Rau will qualify for the final in Hamburg is still unclear: Every point is highly contested in the tough competition among the German teams. Hinnerk Femerling, Managing Director Operations at Global Sports Marketing, the Zurich based agency that has organised and marketed the tour over the past six years even thinks “the strong national and international competition makes the NESTEA European Championship Final the turning point of every team’s season: Whoever cheers in Hamburg will be going to Beijing.”
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