Local sitting volleyball referee Nello Calleja has been appointed by the European Committee Volleyball for Disabled (E.C.V.D.) as one of the international referees for the European Championships (Men & Women) which are going to be held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, between 9 and October.

Calleja will be one of a team of 20 European international referees who will be officiating during this competition, held every two years, which will be held at the Topsportcentrum Rotterdam.

This will be Calleja’s second appointment in Sitting Volleyball this year, after having been one of the referees during the Continental Cup held in Kettering, the UK in July.

Twelve men’s national teams will be divided into two groups, with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Latvia, Russia and Turkey in Group A, whilst Germany, Ukraine, Netherlands, Poland, Azerbaijan and Great Britain will form Group B. Bosnia and Herzegovina start as favourites after having won the last six editions of the Men’s European Championships.

In the women’s competition, the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain and Russia will face each other in Group A whilst Ukraine, Slovenia, Hungary and Finland will form Group B. In the women’s competition the Netherlands are the current champions, after having won the European Championships since 2001.

The format of the competition will be similar for both the Men’s and the Women’s categories, with the first teams in each group moving on to the quarter finals, and the eventual winners moving on to the semi finals and the final.