Power Cup comes to an end with many happy faces

The World's biggest youth Volleyball tournament, the Power Cup, finished on Sunday in Seinäjoki accompanied by chilly weather conditions. The last competition day was actually pretty cold with temperatures up to 11 degrees. But even the chilly weather didn't slow the pace of the best young players along their way to the final success. Many happy faces were to be seen on the podium during the awarding ceremony.
Most of the classes got Finnish winners. In the boys’ division, there were no winners from foreign countries, but Tallinna Kalev of Estonia won bronze in the A-boys/born 1990 or later and Rakvere Sportschool – also from neighboring Estonia - took the silver medal in the D-boys/born 1998 or later. In the girls’ competition, two gold medals went to Estonia: Tallinna Kalev won the U22-girls/born 1988 or later and Kunda Volleyball Team topped the standings in the A-girls/1990 born or later. There was still one foreign class winner, when Tallinna Kalev won the D-mixed/born 1998 or later, a competition starring boys and girls playing together.
During the Power Cup the Finnish Anti-doping Agency promoted some actions for clean sport and fair play with the special program called "Clean Win". Mauro Berruto, the head coach of the Finnish men's national team, and Tapio Korjus, former javelin thrower and Olympic champion in Seoul 1988, set a good example by signing the petition asking for a clean sport.
“Clean sport is important. Everybody, who does any sport, has to enjoy doing it and use sport as a key for a good and healthy life” said Tapio Korjus. ”Our top athletes and sport idols are showing an example for the youngsters, who are our future in all top sports” continues the Olympic champion.
Italia-born Mauro Berruto did also support the same campaign: “Clean sport should be the one and only way to practice any sport. Fortunately we have in Volleyball an advantage, i.e. that Volleyball skills are more important than power” mentioned the mentor of the Finnish national team.
Both sport professionals called also for versatility. “Children should improve their physical skills by doing every possible sport. This is the way how young athletes can grow and develop into top athletes cleanly” they said.
This versatility is to be found also in the Power Cup: the girls of a soccer team from the club FC POHU (Pohjois-Haagan Urheilijat) entered the division C-girls/born 1995 or later. The team is sponsored by FADA and played with the name of PUPU. “The team is a good example of versatility in sports. The girls won one match and they are more than happy with that. They are natural winners, when they take a chance to challenge themselves in other sport than the one they have done for years, that simply fires them up” commented Susanna Sokka, Information Manager at FINADA.
Jaana Laurila, Project Manager for the Power Cup on behalf of the Finnish Volleyball Association, announced at the end of the competition that the 2011 Power Cup will be organized in Lahti and run there through June 9-14. Teams from Finland and all over Europe are already invited to join that unique experience!