2011 Disabled Volleyball World Cup comes to a close
Last Friday, 29 July 2011 at the final of the week-long Disabled Standing Volleyball World Cup, Cambodia played off against defending champions Germany at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
In a gripping match, Cambodia played hard for the opportunity to be able to become the first Cambodian sportsmen crowned world champions. In the end, however, Germany’s domination in disabled standing volleyball remained undisputed. They beat Cambodia 3-1.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka, who participated in the World Cup for the first time, took home the bronze medal after beating Slovakia.
In total, six countries travelled to Cambodia to take part in the 2011 Disabled Standing Volleyball World Cup, which kicked off on 23 July: Cambodia, Germany, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Laos and Sri Lanka.
Advocating disabled sports
The Disabled Volleyball World Cup was hosted for the third time in Cambodia. The organisers, Cambodia National Volleyball League for Disabled (CNVLD) have definitely succeeded in promoting this event on a national and international level, thereby advocating disabled sports and the potential of its players. For the final game, the stadium was packed to the rafters.
All the matches at this year’s World Cup were covered by the media. For example, Cambodian TV station Bayon TV aired all matches live on national television and also newspapers reported on the game. In the run-up to the World Cup, there was even a fashion spread with Cambodian athletes with disabilities in a fashion magazine.
Particularly for Cambodia, a country, which has the highest number of disabled people per capita, and where one in every 300 is an amputee, such positive disclosure of disability is desirable and the Cambodian’s second place win has added momentum to the publicity.
A big success
However, this World Cup is a success beyond the Cambodian boarders. At the closing ceremony, Ith Samheng, Cambodian minister of Social Affairs, said that the Disabled Volleyball World Cup “reflects the ability, talent, endeavour and potential of persons with disability worldwide”.
More about the WOVD Standing Volleyball World Cup:
- See photos of the World Cup by Luke Duggleby
- Live TV coverage of the matches
- Fashion spread with Cambodian athletes with disabilities
For general information on sport and disability:
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