patriotsblade
06-24-2008, 04:41 PM
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/sports/article2502963.ece
This year's World Tour sand volleyball tournament in the west coast city of Stavanger has just begun, but organizers and players are already dreaming about next year's event. It may be held on the massive Prekestolen (Pulpit Rock) east of the city, and 604 meters straight up form the Lysefjord.
http://media.aftenposten.no/archive/00795/preikestolen__preke_795711h.jpg
The natural landmark west of the city has been popular with daring BASE jumpers for years. Now volleyball athletes may play some matches on the flat top of the rock that dramatically rises from the water below.
Odd Langhelle, chief of the company that arranges and runs the World Tour events in both Stavanger and Kristiansand, wants to hold the opening and final matches of next year's world championships in Stavanger.
"It would make for great pictures to show an international audience," he told newspaper Aftenposten. "We get 100 hours of broadcast time on international TV channels, with a lot of focus on Norway. Prekestolen is Norway in a nutshell."
Langhelle said he's started a process to obtain the necessary permits, from local authorities and the international sand volleyball federation FIVB. He says there's "absolutely a chance" they can pull it off.
Athletes like the idea, too, calling it everything from "completely fantastic" to "very cool." "But I have terrible fear of heights," admitted Ingrid Tørlen, who plays with Nila Håkedal.
"It may be difficult, it probably blows a lot up the there," mused Jørre Kjemperud. "But Prekestolen ... crazy! I would definitely turn up."
Around 240 athletes from 30 countries are taking part in this year's annual volleyball tournament in Stavanger. The tournament closes off the downtown area, with five arenas built out of a 2,500 tons of sand.
http://media.aftenposten.no/archive/00795/_preke-B1_jpg_795433h.jpg
This year's World Tour sand volleyball tournament in the west coast city of Stavanger has just begun, but organizers and players are already dreaming about next year's event. It may be held on the massive Prekestolen (Pulpit Rock) east of the city, and 604 meters straight up form the Lysefjord.
http://media.aftenposten.no/archive/00795/preikestolen__preke_795711h.jpg
The natural landmark west of the city has been popular with daring BASE jumpers for years. Now volleyball athletes may play some matches on the flat top of the rock that dramatically rises from the water below.
Odd Langhelle, chief of the company that arranges and runs the World Tour events in both Stavanger and Kristiansand, wants to hold the opening and final matches of next year's world championships in Stavanger.
"It would make for great pictures to show an international audience," he told newspaper Aftenposten. "We get 100 hours of broadcast time on international TV channels, with a lot of focus on Norway. Prekestolen is Norway in a nutshell."
Langhelle said he's started a process to obtain the necessary permits, from local authorities and the international sand volleyball federation FIVB. He says there's "absolutely a chance" they can pull it off.
Athletes like the idea, too, calling it everything from "completely fantastic" to "very cool." "But I have terrible fear of heights," admitted Ingrid Tørlen, who plays with Nila Håkedal.
"It may be difficult, it probably blows a lot up the there," mused Jørre Kjemperud. "But Prekestolen ... crazy! I would definitely turn up."
Around 240 athletes from 30 countries are taking part in this year's annual volleyball tournament in Stavanger. The tournament closes off the downtown area, with five arenas built out of a 2,500 tons of sand.
http://media.aftenposten.no/archive/00795/_preke-B1_jpg_795433h.jpg