With the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games now just over two years away, Sheffield reinforced its links with the Serbian Olympic Committee during European League volleyball games at the Sheffield International Venues managed Ponds Forge International Sports Centre on Saturday 3 July and Sunday 4 July.

The event gave people in Sheffield the chance to experience some of the opportunities that London 2012 is bringing to our region, and the British Volleyball Federation and Sheffield City Council invited interested parties to a special reception before enjoying the women’s game.

Cllr Roger Davison Sheffield City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Tourism said:

"This event was a wonderful opportunity to see the GB team in action in their home city of Sheffield, whilst on its journey to the London 2012 Games

“We are delighted that ties between Sheffield and Serbia are growing ever stronger and are keen to see people in South Yorkshire experience more sporting opportunities that the London 2012 Games will bring to our region.”

Kenny Barton, GB Volleyball Performance Programme Manager, said:

“Serbia is one of the great European Volleyball super powers with many world class players, and GB women felt the force this weekend in the thrilling clashes between the two teams.

”In order to continue to develop the GB squads it is crucial we play competitive matches against high ranking teams and we are continually working with Sheffield City Council to help host these matches in the city, since UK Sport World Class Performance lottery funding helped establish their full time programme home base right here in the EIS-Sheffield three years ago.”

The relationship between Serbia and Yorkshire was established after Sheffield signed a memorandum of Understanding with the Serbian Olympic Committee in May 2009, for Yorkshire to be their chosen base for Pre Games Training Camps prior to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.

Great Britain Volleyball is one of four British high performance centres based in Sheffield as a direct result of the London 2012 games.

The impact that volleyball alone will have on the local economy has been estimated at over £1 million in just two years. Immediately prior to the London 2012 games Serbia will base a holding camp in the region which is estimated to bring more than £200,000 of economic benefit to Yorkshire.

In 2008, Serbia held junior multi-sports camps in Leeds and the country’s best female diver has relocated to Sheffield and is now studying at Sheffield University while training with the GB diving team.

The Serbian women’s team is currently ranked 10th in the world.