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Beside the hard economical situation and the stress that has swept the city, the summer paved its way down the streets of Athens. All month long the beach umbrellas comfortably shade those who have decided to take a breath of fresh air at least. It is true happiness that summer always comes. It really is one of the few things worth enjoying. At least in Greece.

What’s the sign of the real summer? The date, the sun, the umbrellas all along the beach and…something else. Of course, the beach volleyball. But can we carry the volleyball playground with the sand to the city center? Yes, we can. Athens Golden Cup 2010 is doing exactly this. The tournament is held on Syntagma Square from 2^nd to 6^th of June and it is worth watching it. You have the chance to watch the contest between some of the most popular names in this summer sport under the hot sun in the city center of Athens.

So, her skills on the sand will show Eliza Maja Secomadi from Brazil. She is 1.83 m tall and comes from Rio de Janeiro together with her playmate Tayana Lima. Secomadi ranked 17^th in the 2008 world rank list. The other Brazilian that is going to demonstrate her skills is Shaylyn Kelly Bruno Bede. She is the sister of the world champion Selda. And Shaylyn is the world champion of the U-21, 2001. She is from Rio de Janeiro too. We will see and the twin sisters from Finland Erika & Emilia Nystrom. Both of them confess that they are so in love with Greece that they have decided a Greek coach to train them. Erika & Emilia compete even for Apollon Keratsini. There is one participant in the tournament from Austria. This is Felix Blauel – the European champion of U-23, 2006. In 2007 he ranked 5^th in FIVB Challenger in Milan and 7^th in Swatch FIVB World Tour in Guaraza, Brazil. 

Cyprus is represented by Manolina Konstantinou, Mariota Anggelopoulou and Misha Kusnerev, Dimitris Apostolou. Manolina and Mariota are the new promising team of the Cyprus beach volleyball. They won the gold of the 13^th Games of the Small States of Europe. They were 5^th in the games in Pescara and ranked 5^th during the European championship U-18 in Portugal. Misha Kusnerev and Dimitris Apostolou are the champions of Cyprus Golden Cup 2009. They will play together for the first time during Athens Golden Cup. Here will be and the Estonian beach volleyball bests Karl Jaani and Rivo Vesik, tall 1.98 and 1.91 m. The Brazilians Rogeiro Para de Suza Ferreira and Roberto Pitta are here too.

As a hosting country Greece has the largest number of competitors. The best local players of beach volleyball will show their skills on the sand in the center of Athens. They are the 2005 and 2007 European champion Viki Arvaniti, the fourfold champion of the country Maria Tsiartsiani, the double Greek champion Pola Kitsou. She became Balkan champion of the Kalo Nero tournament in Kyparissia in 2003. Areti Teza is the other Greek goddess of the beach volleyball that will take part in Athens Golden Cup 2010. In 2007 together with her playmate Athina Dilaveri she ranked 5^th in FBA Challenger. Dilaveri who has started her international career with the 10^th position of the European championship in Germany will be on the sand too. Here will be and Athina Papafotiou who took the 9^th place of the World championship in Modena.

The male stars of the tournament will be Manos Ksenakis together with Tanos Mihalopoulos who ranked 9^th in the Mediterranean games in Pescara. Here will be Giorgos Kotsilianos, the 2007 national champion Thodoris Papadimitriou, Georgios Knapek who ranked 4^th in the World championship U21 in Catania. Panagiotis Murdzidos, Nikos Kostakopoulos and Ilias Zolatastidas will be on the sand too.

The tournament on Syntagma Square is held for the first but not for the last time. According to the organizers, the residents of the capital will enjoy this sport event every year from now on.

The attendance is free.