The Hague, Netherlands, June 26, 2015 – President Dr Ary S. Graça F° gave high praise to the Netherlands, the four venues in four different cities and event organizers while congratulating the participating players in The Hague at the general technical meeting Friday prior to the start of the $1m FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships featuring the world’s best players.
GENERAL INFO
A total of 48 women’s and 48 men’s teams have been split into 12 four-team pools for three rounds of pool play with plenty of promising matchups in 144 group matches among 12, four-team pools split into three pools per gender with competition anchored in The Hague, with Amsterdam Apeldoorn and Rotterdam all hosting pool play and three rounds of eliminations. The competition concludes with the women’s semifinals and medal matches in The Hague on Saturday, July 4 and the men’s semifinals and medal matches on Sunday, July 5.
PURSEWith a total of 96 tandems (48 in each gender), two-person teams will be competing for part of a $1 million purse as the Netherlands hosts an FIVB international event for the sixth consecutive year.
The gold medal winning teams in each gender will earn $70,000 while the silver medalists will take home $52,000 with the bronze medalists netting $40,000 with $30,000 going to the fourth place finishers.
PRESIDENT COMMENTS
President Dr Ary S. Graça F° to the athletes participating in pool play in The Hague, “Firstl I would like to thank our hosts the Netherlands – the four competition cities, which all have spectacular venues, the host Federation Nevobo, and TIG, who have promoted this event so superbly.”
“And of course – thank you to the athletes who have trained hard and travelled far and wide to be here with us today for the 20th edition of the FIVB’s premier beach volleyball tournament. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our players. Because of you, our beautiful sport is attracting stakeholders and inspiring fans around the world and we can now say that Beach Volleyball is one of the most universal and exciting sports on the planet.”
“Together, we will secure volleyball’s place as the most engaging family sport entertainment in the world.”
“The outstanding ticket sales for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where the demand for Beach Volleyball has almost equalled the demand for football, shows that fan engagement is increasing all the time, and global participation continues to grow year on year with a record 194 countries involved in Olympic qualification for the 2016 Games.”
“As you know, before becoming the President of the FIVB, I was President of the FIVB Beach Volleyball Commission and – before that – I played volleyball for Brazil while also spending many years playing on the beaches in Rio.”
“As FIVB President, as a former player, and as a Brazilian and “Carioca,” I am consumed by volleyball in all its forms and I am thrilled about bringing Beach Volleyball back to Copacabana Beach next year to make it the most popular event of the 2016 Games – ensuring you all even greater exposure and even greater success.
"Beach Volleyball is very, very important for the FIVB’s Strategic Plan for the future.
"Our top priority is always the athletes and – regardless of sponsors – it has been our mission to increase the prize money to guarantee that Beach Volleyball players can make a sustainable career from their sport. My vision is to make volleyball the greatest sport in the world. To secure this, the FIVB has invested a lot in Beach Volleyball during my mandate.
“A main focus this season has been to expand our horizons. With the help of our new partners NBC and the Beach Major Company – a joint venture created between RedBull and Hannes Jagenhofer – we will boost our sport and you the athletes to the next level through increased TV distribution, promotion and global visibility.”
“For the first time in history, this season’s World Tour will comprise three events in the United States – a lucrative market which in itself will provide a phenomenal platform for our sport.”
“Your future, and the future of Beach Volleyball, is very bright. But for today, the focus of the entire Volleyball family is here – at the most prestigious competition in the FIVB Beach Volleyball calendar.”
“To commemorate the importance of this tournament, we have a new and very special trophy to present to the Champions! Until then, I wish you all the very best in the competition. May the Championships provide great sportsmanship, spectacular play and thrilling entertainment to inspire you and all the beach volleyball fans around the world!”