History

The Goldelsen-Cup

The international Volleyball Tournament in November has been around for a long time, but 2008 for the first time Vorspiel Berlin and the women's/lesbian sports club "Seitenwechsel" are joining forces. And there's more: the Tournament now has its own name. Since that, male and female volleyball players are smashing, passing and sweating it out in a fight for the Goldelse Cup.

Actually it was planned, to organize the tournament in two-year cycle. But after the success of the first year, the organiser’s quickly decided to go straight for a Berlin Tournament 2009 and 2010, rather than wait a year. Keeping the name Goldelse Trophy and, of course, continuing the co-operation of Vorspiel and Seitenwechsel.

2010 presented the entries from all over Europe with 70 on a new registration record - but only 55 could be approved. For more teams itself, the Max-Schmeling-Halle was too small. Over 500 athletes from 26 cities and 13 countries participated.

The Goldelse

A word of explanation for non-Berliners: Goldelse is the nickname Berliners give to the bronze sculpture on the Victory Column. Her real name is actually Viktoria, the goddess of victory, and she has the finest view over Berlin. She looks down from a height of over 66 metres on the capital, in particular the Tiergarten park and thus also the annual CSD parade (Gay Pride). Incidentally, you can enjoy this great view for yourself before or after the tournament, if you don't mind climbing the 285 steps to the viewing platform!