Stavanger, Norway, June 13, 2015 - FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graça F° presented Hannes Jagerhofer with a plaque prior to play at the Stavanger Major on Saturday, acknowledging the exciting start to the new partnership of the FIVB and Beach Major Company (BMC), which is behind the new SWATCH Major Series.
In February, the FIVB announced a historic agreement with BMC - a joint venture between Austrian promoter Mr Jagerhofer (Acts) and Red Bull - to continue to demonstrate the international federation’s commitment to sport innovation, fan engagement and providing opportunities for volleyball and beach volleyball athletes around the world.
Stavanger is one of three Majors (Porec, Croatia was held last week and Gstaad, Switzerland will be held from July 7-12) and the SWATCH FIVB World Tour Final which has joined the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour in 2015.
“Who knew back in 1987 when the FIVB started sanctioning events that beach volleyball would develop into an Olympic sport that ranks as one of the most watched sports in the Olympic Games,” Dr. Graça said. “With our new partnership with BMC and SWATCH, we are at the start of another exciting new chapter in beach volleyball. With the launch of the SWATCH Major Series along with the staging of the World Championships in the Netherlands this year, beach volleyball will be attracting world-wide attention. Throw in the qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the world will be watching the best athletes playing their very best to reach Copacabana for the Summer Games.”
Under the guidance of Dr. Graça, the 2015 World Tour calendar features $9.25m in prize money and culminates with an inaugural SWATCH FIVB World Tour Final in September in Fort Lauderdale, USA. The international circuit also features the FIVB “senior” World Championships in the Netherlands, five Grand Slams, three SWATCH Major Series events and seven Open tournaments.
The Stavanger Major will be followed by St Petersburg (USA) Grand Slam (June 16-21) and the World Championships to be held June 26 through July 6 across four cities in the Netherlands.