Béla Hóbor will officiate the Eötvös Cup final again

The 17th Eötvös Cup international volleyball tournament will be held August 17-19, 2013. The organizers continuously try to increase the level and popularity of the event. Their latest statement definitely serves this purpose, as they asked Béla Hóbor to officiate this year’s Eötvös Cup final. He was the first referee of men’s volleyball final at the London 2012 Olympic Games, and now he agreed to come to referee the Cup final.

As an FIVB referee he officiated at four Olympic Games: as second referee in the finals at the Sydney (2000) and Beijing (2008) Olympics; as first referee in the men’s semi-final in Athens (2004) and he was chosen to referee the final between Brazil and Russia at the London Olympics (2012). He whistled in numerous competitions and championships (World League, World Cup, European Championship, World Championship and Champions League).

Here you can read an interview with Béla Hóbor, one of the best volleyball referees in the world.

-On the website of the Hungarian Refereeing Commission an interview can be read, in which there are impressive data about you. You were an FIVB referee for 18 years, you whistled about 1900 matches in more than 50 countries. You officiated at many top level volleyball events: 17 World League finals, 4 World Cups, 7 European Championships (including 3 finals as first referee) and 6 Champions League finals.       

Undoubtedly, you are a key person in volleyball and you had the most nominations among Hungarian referees.

Was it worth devoting your life to the sport? What are your feelings about this outstanding career?

-Béla Hóbor: Of course, it was worth. I had a lot of good memories over the 26 years as an international referee. I visited more than 50 countries, I had the chance to learn about different cultures and I have made a lot of friends. Hopefully, for young referees this more than a quarter-century career as an international referee can set a good example that persistence, talent and fairness may transform their dreams into reality.

-Your fourth Olympics was London, where you whistled the final. It is obviously a great success for Hungarian sports and volleyball, but do you consider it to be the top of your career as well?

- Béla Hóbor: Just like for the athletes, the Olympics represent the pinnacle of their career for the referees. I think officiating at the men’s final at the London Olympic Games was the top of my carrier. It was a great honour that the International Referee Commission selected me to referee an Olympics final for the third time.

- You refereed matches of both national teams before the Olympics final, so you knew the players of both teams. What did you feel when the Brazilian team earned a match point in the third set and at 24:23 they had the chance to win the match for 3:0 and get their third Olympic gold medal? Did you think the outcome was easily predictable?  

- Indeed, I knew both the Brazilian and Russian teams very well. I had met them not only at the Olympics but in several international volleyball competitions. In my opinion, in such an important match it means a lot for the teams if there is a familiar and experienced referee. At the last match point I thought about having a last rally without any problem. And then came what makes volleyball the most beautiful team sport. The match doesn’t end until the last point.  Fifteen thousand fans in the stadium and a global TV audience of hundreds of millions could watch three more amazing sets. Experts say it was the most beautiful Olympics final ever.

- After the final the referee supervisor gave you 100 points out of 100. How is it possible to conduct a fast man’s match without a mistake? What is the secret? Good eyesight, routine, help from the other referees or something else?    

- Béla Hóbor: If you watch the match videos you will realize that it wasn’t without referee mistakes. Mr. Kraus, president of FIVB Refereeing Commission and supervisor of the match emphasized that I could handle and control the match very well. Perhaps that’s the reason why I got 100 points. Of course, at this level it is impossible to notice everything without the help of the colleagues. And I had a skilled and experienced second referee, Mr. Tano from Japan. He was a great help for me during the match, sometimes it was enough just to look at each other, and he made a responsible decision in a hard moment at the end of the match.

- I read that at the latest Olympics you whistled eight matches (7 men’s and 1 women’s). What did you feel when you saw György Grózer, Hungarian-born volleyball player in the German national team in the quarterfinal Germany vs. Bulgaria match? Did you talk before or after the match?

- Béla Hóbor: Yes, after the match I talked to Gyuri for a few minutes near the changing rooms. They lost the match, but earlier I also officiated at the Germany-Serbia match which they won for 20-18 in the fifth set. Of course it is not an advantage to have a Hungarian player on court, the referee’s task is to conduct the match to the best of his/her knowledge. However, there was an interesting moment during the match. Gyuri asked me something in Hungarian, and I tried to calm him down also in Hungarian. English is the official language, but in that moment it was just natural for both of us. The other players nearby looked surprised as they didn’t understand anything we said.

- You said several times that you have little time for sightseeing because you have a lot of programs and you have to focus on the match. Still, could you mention some tourist attractions that you could visit and found impressive?

- Béla Hóbor: Indeed, I have little time for sightseeing. I watched the opening ceremony in the stadium and it was unforgettable. Our hotel was close to Buckingham Palace, so I could see Changing of the Guard. As I mentioned it was my fourth Olympics, but it was the first time I had the chance to watch a beach volleyball match. The atmosphere was great, but volleyball is the apple of my eye.

- It was a great pleasure for the organizers that in 2009, 2010 and 2011 you accepted our invitation and whistled the finals of the Eötvös Cup. What do you think about the level of the competition? What is your opinion about the role of this tournament in Hungarian and international volleyball?

Béla Hóbor: I think, year by year the level of Eötvös Cup increased. And the rising number of participating teams gives evidence for it. Eötvös Cup became one of the biggest volleyball youth tournaments, thanks to the great work of the organizers and supporters.

- Teams from 31 countries have participated in Eötvös Cup so far. You whistled in more than 50 countries. With your considerable prestige and relationships could you perhaps help us to increase the first number?

-Béla Hóbor: If I can help popularize the tournament, I will do it with pleasure. If possible, I will try to help to invite teams from countries, from where no teams have participated yet.

- Your career has been a great contribution to Hungarian volleyball. In the past years and decade you were the only one representing Hungary in high level volleyball. With your experience, relationships and ideas presumably you could have an important role in improving Hungarian volleyball. What are your future plans?

-Béla Hóbor: I will help with pleasure if needed. I’m sure that with well-planned and persistent work we could reach a good level in European volleyball. If volleyball got the support the other team sports get, significant improvements could be achieved. I hope that soon we will get the financial support promised by the Prime Minister and Hungarian volleyball will be on the rise again. And I hope that similarly to Eötvös Cup, more high level volleyball events will be organized, because they are very important in improving the sport.

Thank you for the interview. See you on 19th August in Debrecen in the final of the 17th Eötvös Cup.