Nations Cup Beach Volley 2025 was held with great success in Heraklion, Crete, from May 16 to 18. The event was hosted at TUI Magic Life Candia Maris, member of Metaxa Hospitality Group, attracting the interest of beach volleyball fans from across Greece and Europe. The tournament served as a key milestone for European beach volleyball, drawing top-tier athletes and elevating the level of competition and spectacle. At the same time, it spotlighted Crete as a rising hub for sports tourism with international appeal.
Three Days full of Beach Volleyball
This year’s event significantly contributed to the sport’s international exposure and growth. National teams from six countries participated, and spectators enjoyed free access to all matches. On the men’s side, strong teams from the Netherlands, Hungary, Luxembourg, and Greece took part. On the women’s side, national teams from Poland, Estonia, and Greece competed, bringing some of the biggest names in European beach volleyball to Crete.
The result was an impressive showcase of elite-level competition. Packed stands and an electric atmosphere made every set an unforgettable experience.
The Greek men’s national team stood out, earning 2nd place thanks to outstanding performances by Antiol Kola, Vaggelis Sideris, Stavros Dallas, and Dimitris Chatzinikolaou. However, the Netherlands dominated the men’s division, winning all their matches and securing a spot in the Nations Cup finals in Espinho, Portugal (July 17–20).
In the women’s division, Estonia – with players Kuivonen, Jürgenson, Holas, and Remmelg – took 1st place, followed by Poland in 2nd and Greece in 3rd, giving Estonia a strong advantage heading into the next phase of the tournament.
Unlike typical beach volleyball tournaments, Nations Cup emphasizes national representation and teamwork. Each country participated with two teams (male and/or female), competing as a single national unit. Each match included two matches – one per pair – and the overall winner was determined by the combined team performance, not individual results. This format demands strategy, unity, and a collective competitive spirit.
Live and Free Streaming for All
All matches were streamed live on Action 24’s official YouTube channel, with multi-camera coverage, allowing fans from Greece and abroad to follow the progress of their national teams and experience the excitement in real time.
Crete on the Global Sports Tourism Map
The successful hosting of the Nations Cup in Heraklion reaffirmed Crete’s status as a leading sports tourism destination. The island’s hospitality, the seamless organization, and the global attention the event attracted enhanced the image of Crete and Greece as ideal hosts for international sports events. Crete’s momentum continues with two more international beach volleyball tournaments scheduled for November 2025 at the state-of-the-art facilities of TUI Magic Life Candia Maris: A world-class event featuring top athletes from around the globe, and the exciting Marathon Tournament, expected to be one of the year’s highlights. These events aim to establish Ammoudara as a top sports tourism destination in Northern Crete.
Serafim Karouzakis, General Manager of TUI Magic Life Candia Maris, Metaxa Hospitality Group stated: “We are especially proud to have hosted such a prestigious international tournament as Nations Cup. The warm response from the public, flawless organization, and strong participation of elite European athletes created a high-caliber event that truly highlighted Crete’s potential in sports tourism. Nations Cup aligns perfectly with our hotel’s philosophy — to offer authentic wellness and sports experiences to guests seeking active holidays. We consistently invest in infrastructure and services that enrich our offerings and brings us great joy to serve as a benchmark for such events. We sincerely thank the event organizers — Region of Crete, Hellenic Volleyball Federation, Municipality of Malevizi, and Metaxa Hospitality Group — for their trust and excellent collaboration. The success of Nations Cup is proof of what we can achieve when we join forces to promote Greece as a global destination for sports experiences”.
George Karabetzos, President of the Hellenic Volleyball Federation highlighted: CEV Beach Volley Nations Cup in Heraklion was a significant event for both European and Greek beach volleyball and marked an ideal start to a rich 2025 calendar. The high level of competition and enthusiastic audience turnout proved that Greece is fully capable of hosting prestigious international events. The choice of Crete and TUI Magic Life Candia Maris confirms the island’s unique position — combining sports with Greece’s growing tourism sector — and supports our vision of expanding the sport across the country. I’d like to warmly thank Metaxa Hospitality Group, the Region of Crete, the Municipality of Malevizi, and everyone who worked with dedication and professionalism to deliver such a top-tier tournament”.
The Nations Cup was held under the auspices of the European Volleyball Confederation (C.E.V.), and the Hellenic Ministry of Tourism.
It was co-organized by the Region of Crete, the Hellenic Volleyball Federation (H.V.F.), the Municipality of Malevizi, and Metaxa Hospitality
Group.
TUI Magic Life Candia Maris was the Official Hospitality Sponsor. SIXT, member of MOTODYNAMICS Group was the Premium Mobility
Partner.
Kosmos Travel was the Official Travel Agent Sponsor.
Dandalis, and KORRES were Partners.
Kritikos Komvos, Vassiliou Trofinko, Siganos Wine &Spirits, Creta
Vinifera, Vario, Xalkiadakis, and Selinari were the Supporters.
CEV, and ACTION24 were the Official Broadcasters.
ActiveMedia Group was responsible for the event’s Sports Production.
About TUI MAGIC LIFE Candia Maris and Metaxa Hospitality Group
TUI MAGIC LIFE Candia Maris, a member of the Metaxa Hospitality Group, is a 5* resort located on the beach of Ammoudara, close to the city of Heraklion and the international airport. The resort is designed for guests aged 16 and over, with a primary focus on entertainment and wellness.
Metaxa Hospitality Group is a leading Greek group of authentic hospitality services that celebrates 50 years of uninterrupted operation this year. Recognized as the "Best Hospitality Group in Greece" by the World Travel Awards 2021 – 2024, it operates luxury resorts and 5-star hotels with more than 1,100 beds in Crete (Creta Maris Resort, TUI Magic Life Candia Maris) and Santorini (Santo Collection Resorts & Villas). It was founded in Crete in 1975 by the late Nikolaos Metaxas. His legacy is carried on by his family, led by Mr. Andreas
Metaxas, who has guided the Group into a new era of dynamic growth. The Group, recognized with dozens of international awards and certifications, operates according to the principles of Sustainable Development, where employees, the local community and visitors are at the heart of its activities.
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