The Eastern European Volleyball Zonal Association (EEVZA) recently conducted its annual General Assembly in Riga. This year`s assembly was organized in close collaboration with and received significant support from the Volleyball Federation of Latvia, coinciding with EEVZA`s 20th anniversary.
Representatives from seven member countries – Armenia, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine – were present at the meeting. Key topics on the agenda included reviewing and discussing the championship calendar for 2025 and 2026, updates to the Competition Regulations for both Volleyball and Beach Volleyball, details of the new EEVZA Empowerment Programme designed to bolster member federations` work, the financial report for 2024, and the proposed budget for 2025.
With several changes in the leadership of member federations, the assembly also provided an opportunity to acknowledge and congratulate newly elected or re-elected Presidents, such as Arnis Tunte (Latvia), Darius Cerka (Lithuania), and Georgi Kartvelishvili (Georgia).
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of EEVZA`s establishment, several honorary guests were invited. These included Maris Pekalis (Latvia), who played a crucial role in the organization`s founding and served as its first President, and Atis Sausnitis, the former President of the Latvian Volleyball Federation (now a member of its Management Board), recognized for his substantial efforts in helping to establish and consolidate the zonal association.
Attendees were treated to a presentation by Secretary General Inara Brokane, who reviewed EEVZA`s history over the past two decades, including historical facts and figures presented by Mr. Pekalis. As a memento of the occasion, all participants received specially designed gifts and attended an official lunch.
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood