In a recent development in the world of volleyball, two of Europe’s leading clubs, Jastrzębski Węgiel and Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle, have announced their withdrawal from the upcoming Club World Championship. This decision raises serious questions about the relevance and actuality of the prestigious event.
Both teams, acknowledged as the best in Europe and finalists of the CEV Champions League, have cited the event’s timing within the highly congested volleyball season as a significant reason for their withdrawal. Volleyball stands as one of the few, if not the only, team sports where the national teams season stretches over 5 to 6 months, leading to severe overcrowding of club competitions.
In their statement, the management of KS Jastrzębski Węgiel appreciated the FIVB invitation to participate in the championship, but emphasized the difficulties in logistics and potential health risks for the team if they were to travel to India, where the championship is set to take place in December. The announcement also highlighted the potential need to postpone crucial matches in PlusLiga and the Champions League.
The decision made by Jastrzębski Węgiel and Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle underscores the urgent need for more careful and balanced planning of competitions in the volleyball season. With the increasing challenges faced by clubs due to the crowded calendar, the relevance and feasibility of such global events are now being critically examined. The withdrawal of these top European clubs from the Club World Championship signifies a turning point in the discussion around the scheduling of international volleyball competitions.
