Sports' Summer 2007

Youth and Professional Competitions

European Youth Olympic festival in Belgrade, Universiade in Bangkok, World Championship in Athletics in Japan. The last grand slam tennis tournament in this season - US Open in New York is finishing right now and European championships in basketball in Spain and volleyball in Russia have just started. So many events and excitements... we are giving you a short summary


By MARKO ANDREJIC
from Belgrade, SERBIA


Summer is closing to the end slowly but surely and some results should be written down and analysed. In this period of the year which is usually reserved for summer holidays, vacations and always some breaks or taking rest, this 2007 was full of big and important European and world events: European Youth Olympic festival, EYOF in Belgrade, Serbia in late July, Universiade in Bangkok in August, also World Championship in Athletics in Osaka, Japan. The last grand slam tennis tournament in this season - US Open in New York is finishing right now and European championships in basketball in Spain and volleyball in Russia have just started and the new champions will be known in the middle of September. Qualifications for the most important football competition in Europe - Champions League are finished and first round will be played in a week and qualifications for Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland are closing to the end. So many events and excitements... we will try to give a short summary.

Youth and Professionals

As WAVE magazine is "International Youth", we are starting this overview with European Youth Olimpic Festival, EYOF 2007 in Belgrade, held from July 21st to 28th. Young sportsmen gathered in the capital of Serbia to present their skills and have some fun. It seems they suceeded and the organizers did their best as the president of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Jacques Rogge stated that this was one of the best organized events in a 16-year old tradition of this sports manifestation. "I have to say that I am very impressed by the quality of the competition organization", Mr. Rogge said. The Opening Ceremony and some sports were held in Belgrade's Arena, the biggest sport's hall in this part of Europe, where basketball and volleyball European championships took place two years ago.

After that Universiade in Bangkok was held in August. Students had their competitions in far east country, fighting for medals against their friends and colleagues. It is interesting that Belgrade had its role again: next competition will be held in the capital of Serbia in 2009 and Belgrade presented their plans and organizing skills.

Talking about Far East, in "the country of rising sun" - Japan, 11th IAAF World Championship in Athletics was held. Actually, in the city of Osaka. This event was very much covered in media who paid attention to the best results and new world records. 1978 athletes, 928 women and 1050 men, shared a common goal of becoming the best, and the level of performances we have seen has been simply phenomenal.

Still in progress

While you are reading this, the men's single final match in New York will probably be finished. The last Grand Slam tennis tournament this season - US Open brought great tennis and some surprises. In women's competition, the world No.1 Justine Henin won the title easily by beating Russian player Kuznetsova in final. The men's final match was played between the best player today Roger Federer and the world No.3 Novak Djokovic.

And when you finish reading this article, European championships in basketball - Spain and volleyball - in Russia will enter the second phase and the best national teams will keep fighting for the medals and titles. Hosts are favorites in Eurobasket, Spanish national team, which is actual World Champion (but more about that on our sport's pages) and volleyball has just started and no difference has made yet, everyone has a chance. But Russians announcing winning the title in their country.

If you are sports' fan, this summary will help you remember all interesting moments of the summer and help you watching competitions that are still in progress. Although we made a distinction between youth events and "grown-up" championships, it is obvious that professional teams are made up of younger and younger people every day. Decide who are your favorites and keep supporting them!