A new day of competition begins in Klagenfurt at a leisurely pace, with temperatures around 30 degrees forecast. No one seems to be in a hurry. There is enough space for all swimming enthusiasts at the numerous Carinthian lakes. As the veil of dawn lifts, there is already a bustle of activity at the campsite near Klagenfurt beach, but it is not hectic. Children between the ages of 11 and 18 emerge from individual tents, all wearing orange T-shirts. Breakfast is served, with parents and coaches taking care of everything. The pastries are fresh, the filter coffee is brewed, and an immense amount of cornflakes and milk lines the individual camping tables. It is a cliché that the Dutch are the most experienced campers, but this is actually the delegation from the ‘Ludo Prima Donna Kaas Volleyball School’. The team comes from Huizen, a Dutch municipality in the province of North Holland, and is a selection of talented players from the region. The club offers high-level sport and is very active when it comes to participating in tournaments, such as the United World Games.
To say that they have front row seats at Lake Wörthersee in Carinthia is an understatement. They only need to take a few steps and their day begins with a dip in the turquoise waters of Lake Wörthersee, even before other visitors arrive at Klagenfurt beach. For many years now, this location has been the base for the delegation from Huizen. Among all the orange shirts is a young man with a captivating smile and a confident charisma. Mats Bleeker is the leader of the 78-strong delegation. From setting up the tents, which the children have to do themselves (team building!), to travelling to the venues, Mats knows the tournament inside out. He first participated in the UWGs as a player in 2017, then as a coach, and now as team manager. However, that does not mean that his active career is over. He is still an active professional and, accordingly, a role model for ‘his’ children and young people. There are probably few people who have absorbed the spirit of the UWGs in as many different ways as Mats.
‘For us, the UWGs are a valuable sporting competition on the one hand and a great way to end the season on the other,’ explains Mats. At Ludo Prima Donna Kaas, this is passed down from generation to generation. ‘ The world of sport is often small: once in my professional career, I met a Dutchman at an international match whom I still knew from the United World Games. Later, we worked for different clubs in different countries. Here you can find friends for life. ‘ says Mats. Former players now take on the role of coaches, and the older children help the newcomers find their feet. ’ It works so well because the supervisors are a well-coordinated team. At the same time, the young children learn from the teenagers, not only in terms of sport, but also how to behave at such an event. ‘
In sporting terms, the volleyball tournament at the UWGs is one of the strongest in terms of both quality and quantity. At this year’s event, the boys and girls from Huizen demonstrated their skills and learned a lot. ‘International matches like these help our players to develop further. Whether they will ultimately make it to the professional level remains to be seen. These tournaments are always a very good yardstick. ‘, says current professional Bleeka. The bonds formed in Klagenfurt last a lifetime. Mats is still living his dream as a professional, and will even be playing in the European League next season. He will always remain connected to the United World Games, whatever role he may play. The day starts as usual at the campsite by the Klagenfurt lido.
Photo credits: Mats Bleeka | Wisthaler