These were the 8th CSIT World Sport Games in Loutraki

The 8th CSIT WSG were the largest games ever to date with 4,500 participants and many officials. 56 countries were represented in a total of 28 sports disciplines. For 6 days, the area around Loutraki was one big sports festival.

On the very first day, about 70 seniors were able to try Catch'n Serve. Organized perfectly by CSIT Vice President Birte Henriksen, responsible for Sport for All & Sport for Elderly People, the sportcamp was the perfect setting. ICSBF President Elisabeth (Sissi) Speiser-Havel and Christina Gschweidl, sports coordinator of Catch'n Serve Ball Austria, personally led the training sessions for the four groups, which were extremely well received.

The Catch'n Serve competition was held in seven groups on four fields simultaneously.

Everyone agreed that the atmosphere and the level of performance were fantastic!

Ensuring that 37 teams play smoothly is a huge challenge. Chairwomen of the technical committee, Monica Zibillini, Anne Danenberg, and Christina Pappas, managed this and much more with a great deal of effort and passion.

The referees provided by the local volleyball club, who had only received a brief training session, also improved from game to game and “blew the whistle” in a pleasant and professional manner.

Exciting games, high sporting standards, and friendship. The less experienced teams learned a lot.

The final result was hotly contested:

1st place: HAPOEL YEDIDOT 2 (Israel)
2nd place: MAMASHARK PIANETA VOLLEY (Italy)
3rd place: NAUKSENI LATVIA (Latvia)

The full rankings will follow. Congratulations to all teams!!!

The high value of Catch'n Serve Ball was also recognized by the high-ranking visitors, led by CSIT President Bruno Molea. Equally enthusiastic were Thomas Zacharias, Vice President of CSIT, the Mayor of Loutraki Georgios Gkionis, and CSIT Vice President for Finance Christian Vivian.

Almost always present: CSIT and ICSBF Vice President Anu Rajajarvi, who also presented the awards. CSIT Secretary General, Vice President of Catch'n Serve Ball Austria and ICSBF Vice President Wolfgang Burghardt took the time to stop by twice, as did ICSBF Vice President Valeria Gherardini and project manager at CSIT and ICSBF Vice President Milan Milan Čupić.

The summary of ICSBF President Elisabeth (Sissi) Speiser-Havel: "These games have once again shown what our sport means and how quickly it is gaining recognition. Seniors, teams that are not yet as experienced as those from Mali, for example, as well as very strong teams from Italy, Finland, Israel, Latvia, and Austria can and want to play together in the same place. I am very proud of all the teams! Not only because of their sporting achievements, but above all because of their fair and friendly behavior. Fair play is a fundamental element of our sport. Failure to comply has consequences, unfortunately also at this tournament. It's great what we have all built up together!"

The Individual Fair Play Award goes to Catch’n Serve Ball Sportswoman Anja Böhmer from Cachibol TURA  Harksheide e.V. Germany. For the fair play and sportsmanship of the whole team during the whole tournament. She has led the entire team in the spirit of fair play and actively promoted important fair play values, even acting as a teacher of them. She has had a positive impact not only on her own team but also on all the others. Congratulations!

During a side event CSB teams had fun at the specially offered and seriously conducted self-defense course for women. The trainers were none other than Christian Horvath-Portele, board member of the International Ju-Jitsu Federation, and sports director Joachim Thumfart.

Thanks to Nikolaos Kerassovitis, the president of the Greek organizer HOCSH, and his team for the unforgettable event!