A lot of love for first-ever #HamburgMajor

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Thousands of fans flooded into the Rothenbaum. Photocredit: Stefan Moertl.

With thousands of beach fans packing the Rothenbaum this week, the smart Major Hamburg was branded the best ever first-time tournament held in beach volleyball by the FIVB!

Now that’s music to our ears. Those were the words of Angel Squeo, the FIVB’s Events Director, at a press conference held after six days of non-stop action wowed the crowds at the iconic stadium.

“For a first-time event it is easily one of the best,” Squeo told a room full of international media. “And of course it helps if the women win gold. It couldn’t have made it better and it’s not easy to beat the World Champions!”

Beach Majors CEO Hannes Jagerhofer was a proud man having seen the event attract over 40,000 beach volleyball lovers. He even joked after Kira Walkenhorst and Laura Ludwig’s sensational final victory that “Germans are now not only football fans but now beach volleyball fans!”

For organizer Frank Mackerodt to finally see a Major in his home town was a dream come true.

“In my first beach volleyball event we had 200 people attend so compare that to this week it’s unbelievable,” said Mackerodt. “We only had eight weeks to put this all together and I would like to thank Hannes for his organization and for helping with sponsorship to make this dream a reality.”

Hannes added: “There’s big potential here in Germany and with more time we can organize an even better event next time!”