The Domiican Republic – Kazakhstan

0:3 (11:25, 23:25, 14:25)

The official program of Yeltsin Cup was opened by a friendly match of Kazakhstan and the Dominican
Republic teams. The score of the first set remained no doubts who was the leader on the playing ground
– 25:11 for Kazakhstan.
During the 3rd and 3:0 for the team of Alexander Gutor.

Kwik Marcos, head coach of the Dominican Republic:

I gave a chance for the youngers to play. I can say I haven`t really seen a play: they haven`t managed to
accomplish anything – neither reception nor the serve. We`ll do a homework on our mistakes and hope
will show more confident play tomorrow.

Alexander Gutor, head coach of Kazakhstan:
I`m satisfied with the result of the match mainly because it
was a friendly match and the Dominican Republic showed not all it was capable of. We`ll prepare for the
first off match will Japan.

Japan – Bulgaria

3:1 (30:28, 28:30, 25:17, 27:25)

The first official match of the tournament was between Japan and Bulgaria . These 2 teams are both
quite interesting. Japan team was named one of the favorites of the tournament at the pre-start press
conference. Bulgarian team is lead this year by Vladimir Kyzutkin who had won gold with Russian team
at the world Championship 4 years ago.
The match started lively and fascinating: competitors carefully examined each other. Finally, after the
intensive 4 sets the score was 3:1 for Japan.

Vladimir Kyzutkin, head coach of Bulgaria:

For me, as for a coach, Japan team is always a favorite
competitor. A very clever, strong team that plays volleyball intellectually. The game was head-to-head,
but someone must win anyhow.

Masaioshi Manabe, head coach of Japan:

Today was a good match and Bulgaria team was a worthy competitor. They have a lot of tall players, so
today we had to play more by physics and not by height.

The Russia – Netherlands

1:3 (19:25, 25:18, 24:26, 22:25)

The most anticipated match of the day did not bring the joy to Russian fans. From the first minutes the
Netherlands team led in score. The second set showed that Russian players could compose themselves.
But they were off the luck 3:1 for the Netherlands.
The best scoring players on Russian team were Zaryazhko and Kytukova, they have 14 points each; on
the Netherlands side – team captain Judit Peterson – 20.
set Kazakhstan team decided to repel all the attacks and not to drag on the match – 25:14

Jury Marichev, head coach of Russia:

I think the Netherland team was much better coordinated today.
Russian team, of course, is a young team. We started training not so long ago and will surely correct our
mistakes.

Giido Vermylen, head coach of the Netherlands:

I`m guite glad will the results of the game today. As I see, our success today is due to our block.

The second raw of seedlings appeared in the World Volleyball Alley. Volleyball players of
the Russian Federation, the Netherlands, Dominican Republic, Hungary and Japan changed
their players’ forms to the aprons, shovels, gloves and buckets and turned into the gardeners.
Under the strict control of plant house head of children’s city ecological camp Ksenia Yudina
sportsmen together with young players of sport school Uralochka and children from orphanages,
pupils of the charity foundation of Olga Kotlyarova “Own Children” gardened the second raw of
bushes on the Volleyball Alley and fulfilled the parks flowerbeds with new perennial plants.
To remind, the World Volleyball Alley appeared there a year ago, when the first bushes were
planted there by the participants of the Volleyball Grand Prix and were renewed by the players
of Yeltsin Cup. It is said that in a couple of years Alley will turn into the real live hedge.
After returning there after a year, girls were quite surprised. The central blocker of Russian team
and Uralochka-NTMK Irina Zaryazhenko hardly recognizes in bushes her last year seedling.
Park servicemen also note that all the seedlings of evergreen thorn took the roots and grew up to
20-30 cm.
Foreign volleyball players of Yeltsin Cup also successfully tried on the role of gardeners. So the
captain of the Netherlands team Udit Peterson said that it was the first experience for her, and
many children knew English, that is why they could work all together as well that communicate.
But already tomorrow colleagues-gardens will become competitors. Girls are going to meet on
the playing ground. The friendly match of Kazakhstan and Dominican Republic starts at 13:30
local time. Russian team meets with the Netherlands at 19:30.

And it unites not only on the playground. July 8 at 10.00 in Kharitonov park (Karla Liebknechta St, 44), just before the opening of the XII International Volleyball Tournament among women’s national teams for the Yeltsin Cup, volleyball players of the teams-participants of the Yeltsin Cup – teams of Russia, the Dominican Republic, Japan, the Netherlands, Bulgaria and others – together with young volleyball players of Uralochka children’s sport school and children from the orphanage, charges of Trust Charitable Foundation of Olga Kotlyarova “Our children” will check how their trees planted a year ago stroke the roots and plant the alley with new seedlings. The purpose of such campaign is to maintain the interest of the citizens to volleyball and be a symbol of succession between the already merited and apprentice sportsmen.
A year ago during the first so called joint garden works of famous volleyball players, their successors and children from the orphanage World Volleyball Alley appeared in Kharitonov Park. This was a hedgerow along a park road on both sides in a meter away from the curb. Five-finger and evergreen thorn seedlings were chosen for the Alley.
Blocker of Uralochka-NMTK and Russian team Irina Zaryazhko actively participated in last year campaign and intends this year to check her tree.
Plants are our future and planting of greenery is useful and wonderful, – says Irina, – I think that if this campaign will lead to some victories, the children’s choice of sport, this will be great.

I decided to take part in this campaign because I want to help children and work with them, – said Cuba team player Emily Borrell last year. – And I am so pleased to see the children happy at this moment. It was great that the children were laughing and they had a positive motivation.
Just like a year ago shovels, holes for seedlings, watering cans filled with water and, of course, overalls and gloves will be prepared for the participants of the campaign. Well media is also welcomed to help volleyball players, young athletes and children from orphanages! Seedlings and shovels are enough for everyone!

Yeltsin Cup opening press conference will be held on 7th July at 15:30 in press conference room at Competition arena of DIVS. Participants are Leonid Rapoport, Minister of physical culture, sport and youth policy, main organizer of Yeltsin Cup Nikolay Karpol and also head coach of Russian national team Yuri Marichev. At the same time there will be accreditation procedure for all journalists. Those who will be not able to get accreditation on this time can get one on the ground floor at DIVS at the information desk of Yeltsin Cup every day during the tournament.
DIVS, Competition arena, press conference room (10, Eremina str.)

Volleyball unites!

In 2013 at one of the most beautiful places of Yekaterinburg Kharitonov garden the Volleyball alley was laid by national teams’ players joined by young athletes of “Uralochka” volleyball school along with orphanage children brought by charity foundation “Our children”. World volleyball stars and growing champions planted perennial bushes, created this Alley as a sign of unity, friendship and support. This year, before opening of the Yeltsin Cup 2014 players will visit Volleyball alley to support this goodwill tradition.
We are together!

We live in Yekaterinburg and are proud of our city and our sportsmen. We come to stadiums and halls to express our support and to contribute emotionally to their great victories. Yeltsin Cup organizing committee, volleyball club “Uralochka” and charitable foundation “We are together” invite everybody to take part in a charity lottery to support one young person and help him to gain the most important victory in his life.
During five game days everybody will be able to buy a lottery ticket. All prizes are given by national teams – participants of Yeltsin Cup – and by organizing committee. Each day prize drawing will be held during the last match.
All raised funds will be given for treatment of Alesha Vasilyev, 5-year old boy who is fighting during several years with a serious cancer disease. Oncology doctors of Children’s hospital №1 and their colleagues from Munich help Alesha to overcome his disease.
Organizing committee is thankful personally Olga Kotlyarova and charitable foundations “Our children” and “We are together” for all acts of kindness that they take.