This year's NAS Sports Tournament in the UAE will distribute a record prize fund of 4.5 million dirhams (1.22 million dollars), Gulf Today reports. The funds will be distributed among the winners in 11 different sports, with the largest sum allocated to volleyball – 1.5 million dirhams (408 thousand dollars or 36.6 million rubles). The champion is expected to receive half of this amount.
Russian teams with new names in the tournament
Two Russian clubs will participate in the competition – Moscow's "Dynamo" and "Nova" from Novokuibyshevsk. They will compete under new names – The Emperor and Aljawareh, respectively. Each team will be under the patronage of a Sheikh-sponsor, who will also provide additional bonuses:
30 thousand dollars (2.7 million rubles) for participation in the tournament
15–35 thousand dollars (1.3–3.1 million rubles) for placing among the prize-winners
Last year the tournament was won by the Italian "Modena" under the name Zabeel 2.
"Initially, we received an invitation for 4 clubs. This is an interesting proposal that we considered carefully. Of course, the tournament dates for Russian clubs are not the most convenient. The playoffs are starting in Russia. Nevertheless, realizing the high importance, great efforts were made to coordinate the trip of our teams to such a prestigious tournament. Teams that will not participate in the playoff qualifiers will travel for the tournament," said the General Secretary of the Russian Volleyball Federation, Alexander Yaremenko.
According to "BO Sport" information, among the participants in the tournament will be the French "Toulouse" and the Polish "Suwalki", as well as the Brazilian champion "Cruzeiro". Italian teams that have not qualified for the Serie A playoffs – "Padua", "Grottazzolina" and "Taranto" – are also expected. The final list of teams has not yet been confirmed. The team of Grottazzolina is confirmed.
NAS Sports Tournament – a tradition during Ramadan
The tournament is organized for the 12th time under the patronage of the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. In addition to volleyball, the program includes padel tennis (764 thousand dirhams), cycling (500 thousand), tug-of-war (370 thousand), as well as running, fencing, badminton, jiu-jitsu, and wheelchair basketball competitions.
Changes in the Russian championship due to "Dynamo"'s participation
Due to Dynamo Moscow's commitment to the NAS Sports Tournament, the All-Russian Volleyball Federation (RVF) changed the format of the playoffs in the Russian championship.
