Iceland is hosting this year’s Games of the Small States of Europe. The opening ceremony was held last night at the Laugardalshöll sports center in Reykjavík. This is the second time in the thirty year history of the games that Iceland plays host to the games.
Nine nations with populations of less than one million send athletes to the games, to compete in eleven disciplines in women’s and men’s divisions. The participating nations are Andorra, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro and San Marino.
A total of 800 contestants are registered for the games, which have been two years in preparation. According to Ragna Ingólfsdóttir at the National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland, hosting the games is a bigger deal proportionately for Iceland than hosting the Olympics was for China.
Among the disciplines contested is beach volleyball, and a new beach volleyball court has been built at the Laugardalslaugin pool. Unlike many sports stadiums built for larger competitions like the World Cup or the Olympic games, the new beach volleyball court is not expected to stand empty after the games, as considerable excitement exists among locals who have welcomed this addition to the various amenities at the Laugardalsaugin pool, which is also the most popular public pool in Reykjavík.
Iceland is hosting this year’s Games of the Small States of Europe. The opening ceremony was held last night at the Laugardalshöll sports center in Reykjavík. This is the second time in the thirty year history of the games that Iceland plays host to the games.
Nine nations with populations of less than one million send athletes to the games, to compete in eleven disciplines in women’s and men’s divisions. The participating nations are Andorra, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro and San Marino.
A total of 800 contestants are registered for the games, which have been two years in preparation. According to Ragna Ingólfsdóttir at the National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland, hosting the games is a bigger deal proportionately for Iceland than hosting the Olympics was for China.
Among the disciplines contested is beach volleyball, and a new beach volleyball court has been built at the Laugardalslaugin pool. Unlike many sports stadiums built for larger competitions like the World Cup or the Olympic games, the new beach volleyball court is not expected to stand empty after the games, as considerable excitement exists among locals who have welcomed this addition to the various amenities at the Laugardalsaugin pool, which is also the most popular public pool in Reykjavík.
