STORY: Teams from around the world escaped the summer heat in Ljubljana on Friday (July 4) in a unique 'Volleyball on Water' tournament.

The 'Magic on the Water' contest, in its fifth year, sees teams of two challenge each other on a volleyball court submerged 12cm in the Ljubljanica river in the heart of Slovenia's capital.

Organiser Kristina Taja Grunfeld said teams from 14 countries from as far afield as Latin America were taking part this year, but that Slovenia remained dominant.

"If we want it to be a serious sport we would need more competitions. Here it's more for fun which you can see on the competitors' faces. I wish it would still stay fun even if it was a serious sport," Grunfeld told Reuters.

A Slovenian female team are the current champions, having won three competitions in a row.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA (JULY 4, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF VOLLEYBALL ON WATER MATCH ON LJUBLJANA'S RIVER LJUBLJANICA

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Slovenian) ORGANISER, KRISTINA TAJA GRUNFELD, SAYING:

"We have 8 female teams and 8 male teams. So 32 people all together. They are from 14 countries."

3. MATCH IN PROGRESS

4. SPECTATORS

5. MATCH IN PROGRESS

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Slovenian) ORGANISER, KRISTINA TAJA GRUNFELD, SAYING:

"Slovenian women are the current champions. The third year in a row now. And for the second is another Slovenian who is defending his third title. So Slovenia is kinda on top."

7. MATCH IN PROGRESS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Slovenian) ORGANISER, KRISTINA TAJA GRUNFELD, SAYING:

"If we want it to be a serious sport we would need more competitions. Here it's more for fun which you can see on the competitors' faces. I wish it would still stay fun even if it was a serious sport."

9. MATCH ONGOING AS TOURIST BOAT PASSES BY

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) VOLLEYBALL ON WATER COMPETITORS MARTIN (LEFT) AND ALAN (RIGHT):

(JOURNALIST ASKING: "So is it as fun as it looks?"

MARTIN: "No, it's better (LAUGHS) It's definitely better."

ALAN: "It's actually the best. For me, it's one of the best experiences. I was just talking with Simon who organises the event, I said this is the only event that I would clear my schedule for. I would postpone every event for that. Because actually it's full of amazing peoples. It's a one-of-a-kind event and it really brings out the best of Ljubljana. I think it's actually one of the most amazing events in the world."

11. SPECTATOR WATCHING FROM RIVER BANK

12. VARIOUS OF MATCH