Lausanne, Switzerland, May 15, 2016 – Turkey is hosting the Antalya Open beach volleyball tournament this week with the competition finishing on Sunday.
It is the fifth men’s competition in Turkey and second time that a women’s FIVB tournament will be held in this country and second FIVB World Tour event in Antalya.
A total of five previous FIVB World Tour events have been staged in Turkey.
Antalya is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and is located on the southwest coast bordered by the Taurus Mountains. It is the largest Turkish city on the Mediterranean coast with over 1 million people in its metropolitan area.
Situated on a steep cliff over the Mediterranean, Antalya is a picturesque city surrounded by mountains. Developments in tourism, starting in the 1970s, have transformed the city into an international resort. With its airport and central location, Antalya is "the capital of Turkish tourism," a gateway for the Turkish Riviera and many historical sites.
The city that is now Antalya was first settled around 200 BC. Roman rule saw Antalya thrive, including the construction of several new monuments, such as Hadrian's Gate, and the proliferation of neighbouring cities.
Antalya is Turkey's biggest international sea resort, located on the Turkish Riviera. Large-scale development and governmental funding has promoted tourism. A record 12.5 million tourists passed through the city in 2014.
Antalya was the host city for the 2015 G-20 summit.
The Antalya Open continues the Road to Rio that lasts until June 13, 2016, with FIVB World Tour events counting towards the Olympic Ranking in order to determine the 15 of 24 spots for each gender that will take part in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.