News Beach volleyball 08/12/2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch Junior World Championships return to Halifax Halifax, Canada, December 8, 2011 – Halifax will become the first city to host back-to-back FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH Junior World Championships after the sport’s governing body announced that the waterfront town will welcome the world’s best junior players once again in 2012.The six-day tournament will take place from August 28 to September 2 and features a Main Draw of 32 teams for the first time as the competition for players under 21 continues to grow in both size and stature.The 2011 edition of the tournament was deemed a great success, with over 14,000 fans travelling to the waterfront to take in the action, and those numbers are expected to grow again this year.“I’m thrilled at having the chance to welcome some of the sports youngest and brightest athletes to Canadian shores yet again,” Volleyball Canada president Hugh Wong said after signing the agreement. “Last year’s event was a new milestone for us as a national federation and we’re obviously hoping to build on that further in 2012. It was so wonderful to see thousands of fans supporting the players in 2011 in what was a highlight for Canadian beach volleyball. I have little doubt that we’ll add to the experience come August next year.”The FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch Junior World Championships are held annually at beach locations all over the world. Last year’s event was unique, with organizers creating a beach surface featuring 2,000 tonnes of sand as well as a temporary stadium.Just like last year, Volleyball Canada will be partnered by promoter Sports & Entertainment Atlantic, and president Derek Martin added that they look to build on last year’s edition.“Last year’s tournament was a great success in so many ways and the overwhelming support we received from the community encouraged us to bring it back again” he said. “With an estimated economic impact of over $3 million dollars this is the type of International event that benefits all of Nova Scotia and Halifax should take pride in being awarded the unprecedented rights to host it two years in a row.” FIVB Beach Volleyball Commission secretary Vicente Araujo explained the fact that the Swatch Junior World Championships is returning to Halifax says a lot about how well it was organized last year.“The 2011 edition of the tournament was magnificent,” he added. “The platform created by both Volleyball Canada and Sports & Entertainment Atlantic for beach volleyball was exactly what we were looking for so I am excited to see how they aim to improve on it in 2012. It has been said many times that these players are the future of the sport and to have this raw talent matched with such a brilliant setting is a positive advert for beach volleyball.”Ukraine’s Sergiy Popov and Valeriy Samoday picked up the 2011 men’s title while Switzerland’s Nina Betschart and Joana Heidrich took the women’s crown.With sell-outs on the final three days of competition in 2011, the Swatch Junior World Championships were the must-see event in Halifax leading into the Labour Day weekend and Sports & Entertainment Atlantic is already working with government and corporate sponsors to ensure the 2012 event builds on that excitement. Tickets for the 2012 event will go on sale on December 8, 2011 at 12:00pm Atlantic time through online ticket provider mytix and can be purchased online at www.sandjamhalifax.com or by phone at 902.496.4749. Ticket prices have been kept at the same reasonable prices as in 2011 with a Full Week Centre Court 6-day tournament pass for as low as $60 (plus HST and service fee) and GA tickets for as low as $5 a day. Single day tickets will be available at a later date if available.Last year over 400 volunteers helped make the tournament a success and if you are interested in helping out at the 2012 event please also visit www.sandjamhalifax.com. Print this Page News {{item.LocalShortDate}} {{item.Title}} All the News