Moscow, Russia
The venue for the EuroBeachVolley 2019 will be developed in one of the largest and most prestigious sport complexes in Russia and worldwide, the Luzhniki Complex.
Luzhniki is the major sporting hub of the Russian cosmopolitan city, hosting daily more than 10,000 people who visit the Luzhniki sports facilities or do sports in the open air daily. Located only a couple of minutes away from metro and Moscow central ring, the venue is easily accessible and aims to provide a range of side events and facilities to the spectators.
In the period from August 5 to 11, 2019 Moscow will turn into the European capital of Beach Volleyball. The main event of 2019 season, the European Championship, will be held in the picturesque place, on the bank of the Moskva river on the territory of the Luzhniki multisport venue.
The Luzhniki is one of the major sports complexes of Russia and the entire world. It's located on the territory of more than 150 hectares. Since the moment of its opening in 1956 the Luzhniki has served as the main sports venue in Russia for hosting sports competitions, as well as the recreation and entertainment zone for thousands of Muscovites and guests of the capital.
During its history of more than 60 years, the Luzhniki has become the host of many major sports and cultural events of the world level: the Olympic Games 1980, the World Festival of Youth and Students, the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in 2013, the FIFA World Cup in 2018; the Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson and many other stars gave their concerts and shows on the stage of the complex. More than 100,000 different events have been held in the Luzhniki with more than 360 million people visiting them. More than 60 world records have been set here, and more than 50,000 goals were scored in official football and ice hockey games on the fields of the stadium.
It should be noticed that in 2005, Moscow and its Luzhniki sports complex successfully hosted the EuroBeachVolley. And in 2009 the similar tournament was organised in Sochi, the Olympic capital of Russia.
Ten years later in 2019 the top athletes of the continent will come to Russia again to prove the high level of their skills at the main European Championship. 32 men's and 32 women's teams will fight for the prestigious European trophy in the conditions of the toughest competition.
Stanislav Shevchenko“Hosting the 2019 Beach Volleyball European Championship is a great opportunity for Russian sports. Beach Volleyball is developing very fast in Russia and raising the interest of spectators and fans alike. I want to express our gratitude to the European Volleyball Confederation for their trust. I am confident that the tournament will be held at a very high level with tremendous support from the audience.”
President of the Russian Volleyball Federation
Moscow, by Oleg Stoyanovskiy
1. Gorky Park
Gorky Park is the Russian capital’s central park, with more than 40,000 visitors on weekdays and 250.000 on weekends and public holidays. Since 2011, the park has been setting new standards, becoming Russia’s first world-class park and a space for recreation, sport, dance and outdoor games.
2. Observation deck of the Academy of Sciences
Next to the new building of the Russian Academy of Sciences, there is a small observation deck located at an altitude of 60 meters. From here, there is a wonderful view of the Academy of Sciences, St. Andrew’s Monastery, the monument to Yuri Gagarin and the embankments of the Moscow River. Then you can consider the majestic skyscrapers of the business centre ‘Moscow City’ and the spire of Moscow State University.
To the left you will see the domes of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, to the right - the towers of the Kremlin surrounded by cathedrals. Some argue that from here some of the objects can be seen even better than from the Sparrow Hills, another iconic place in Moscow. The view of the city from the site near the Russian Academy of Sciences is truly amazing, and there are relatively few visitors. The site is open around the clock and the entrance to it is free. In such places you should definitely take a few pictures for memory, so do not forget to take a camera with you. Getting to the observation deck is not difficult. You just need to walk about 700 meters from the metro station Leninsky Prospekt in the direction of the Russian Academy of Sciences, after going past the high monument to Yuri Gagarin.
3. Pharmaceutical garden MGU
Pharmaceutical garden is the oldest botanical garden in Russia and the oldest division of Moscow State University. The garden is 49 years older than the university itself, founded by Empress Elizabeth according to the idea of Mikhail Lomonosov and with the support of the Chief Chamberlain Ivan Shuvalov in 1755. Of course, the best time to visit the botanical garden is spring, May, when everything is blooming and smelling. In the summer, you can relax here and take a walk. In the park, people arrange photo shoots and they do so quite often: wedding, in the style of love-story, etc. and many places can be a beautiful background for photos. In winter, an orchid festival takes place in the garden. The Botanical Garden of Moscow State University, aka Pharmaceutical Garden, has the status: of historical and cultural monument of Moscow, the monument of landscape gardening art of the XVIII century and of a specially protected natural area.
4. Panorama 360
The Federation Tower is located in the city centre, 4 km from the Kremlin. From here, you can see all of Moscow 360 degrees around from the best angle. The idea of the observation deck was laid at the design stage of the tower, and the best overview was originally planned as a prerequisite of the project.
5. O2 Lounge
The luxurious restaurant and lounge bar on the roof of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Moscow. From here, through the glass dome, one of the best panoramas of the Kremlin and Red Square opens. Rare and natural materials, such as cowhide and petrified wood, are used in the modern setting of the establishment. The menu includes exquisite European fish and seafood dishes: salmon tartare, crab salad, Mediterranean oysters. There is a small section with meat positions. The author’s cuisine is complemented by an extensive collection of wines and cocktails according to exclusive recipes from the chef bartender. In the cold season, the Winter Bar on the terrace functions.
Moscow was also the host of the 2017 European Volleyball Gala, when Russian Volleyball legend Maxim Mikhaylov showed us around the famous Red Square.
