Special report FIVB Grand Prix 2010 - The many benefits of home crowd
It is always good to get the support of local fans during a match. The cheering slogans and uproar of home crowd provides a competitive edge to the host nation. This season Brazil, Poland and China hosted the first preliminary round of FIVB Grand Prix 2010. The Brazilian city Sao Carlos, Gdynia in Poland, and Chengdu China entertained the teams and large number of fans in the first week of the championship.
The die-hard fans of volleyball travelled to these particular cities to witness the best performances of their favourite teams and also to uproar at their shots.
The defending champion Brazil played three pool-play matches in the first preliminary round in a sold out arena. The masses were gathered to catch the highlights of great volleyball event. Brazil won the first two matches where it collided with the teams from Chinese Taipei and Japan. The crowed enjoyed every bit of the great performance and kept encouraging the team from start to end. Brazil proved their steel in the first two matches but received a shocking defeat from Italy in the final match. Despite of the applause from fans it couldn’t deliver a match-winning performance. The home crowd was disappointed by the unstable performance of Brazil.
In the second week of FIVB Grand Prix, the teams travelled to different spots and Brazil made its way to the Chinese City of Macau. They played the second round matches on the ground of a different country. But strangely enough, Brazilian team totally rocked the scene with a mind blowing performance and remained un-beaten in all three matches of the second round. Indeed, the scenario was different, the majority of spectators were local but still they managed to create a spark in the game. On top of it, Brazil defeated China on its home court in front of its native supporters.
In Sao Carlos, Brazil could gain victory in two matches but in Macau it accomplished three matches’ victory and moved to the top spot in standings.
China’s team was lucky to play the both 1st and 2nd round matches in their own country. They played their first-preliminary matches in Chengdu while moved to the city of Macau in the second week of FIVB Grand Prix. The team used the emotional support of local followers and made them proud by clearing the first stage of the championship as an absolute winner. Somehow in the second round, it lost one of its matches to defending champion Brazil.
Likewise Poland was scheduled to put up for the 1st round matches. Poland took full advantage of the home-settings and clean-swept the first round. In the second week, Polish team joined Germany, Japan and Chinese Taipei in Japanese city Okayama. The change of climate adversely affected the team’s performance and it lost its second match with Japan. The clapping of local crowd benefited Japan and they won all the matches of second round of FIVB Grand Prix 2010.
Thailand also became the host of second-preliminary round contests. Nonetheless, it could produce only one victory in three matches. Thailand won its first match with Puerto Rico but failed to generate any good results battling with teams from United States and Italy.
The game will enter the third week on 22nd of August and Taipei, Taiwan will host one spell of matches. If the phenomenon of fans’ support is true then Chinese Taipei must shake off their bad image as they failed to produce any good results in the previous matches. They should benefit from the opportunity and entertain their fans with an outstanding performance.
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