For the first time in history a youth girls’ world championship is co-hosted by two countries, Croatia and Hungary. While Croatia has hosted the event once before, in 2001 in Pula and Rijeka, it is the first time for Hungary to welcome the tournament.
The 2023 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship takes place from August 1 through 11 in Osijek, Croatia and Szeged, Hungary, situated some 220 km from each other in the central part of the European Union.
Osijek is the fourth largest city in Croatia, with a population of about 100 thousand people. It is the largest city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia. The city is situated on the right bank of the Drava River.
Osijek is a popular domestic tourist destination for its Baroque style, open spaces and ample recreational opportunities. The most important sights in the city include the main square, an 18th century Baroque citadel, the promenade along the Drava and a pedestrian suspension bridge. Major institutions in the city include the Croatian National Theatre, the Museum of Slavonia (established in 1877), and the printing house dating to 1735. The city also has several gymnasiums, the oldest of which dates to 1729, a drawing school from the 19th century, a university, a zoo, etc. Numerous events take place in the city throughout the year. The most important of them are the Croatian Tambura Music Festival and the Osijek Summer Nights.
The city is at the centre of an important agricultural region. The surroundings of Osijek provide opportunities for hunting and angling. The recreational and sports centre Copacabana on the left bank of the Drava provides opportunities for various water sports during the summer months. The city offers various sports playgrounds and a new sports hall, built some 15 years ago.
Szeged is a city of about 160 thousand people in southeastern Hungary. It lies on the Tisza River, a few kilometres from the intersection of Hungary, Romania and Serbia. It is the third largest city in the country and the largest city and regional centre of the Southern Great Plain.
Szeged is home to Hungary’s arguably most prestigious institution of higher learning, the University of Szeged, which provides an educational base that has helped transform Szeged into one of the country’s most important centres for research and development, especially in the fields of life sciences, biotechnology, laser technology and information technology.
Opened in 1883, the Neo-Baroque Szeged National Theatre stages performances of drama, dance and opera. The Szeged Open Air Theatre Festival (first held in 1931) is one of the main attractions, held every summer. Szeged is one of the centres of food industry in Hungary, especially known for its paprika. One of the main attractions of Szeged is the Tisza River, which offers possibilities for different water sports or boat trips. While boasting hundreds years of history, Szeged has been rebuilt almost entirely after the flood of 1879, which destroyed most of the city. Today, with its avenues, ring roads and beautiful palaces, Szeged is one of the nicest Hungarian cities.
