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PRESS KIT 2003 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour Calendar WOMEN DATE COUNTRY PRIZE MONEY 11 June - 15 June Rhodes, Greece Open $150,000 17 June - 21 June Gstaad, Switzerland Open $150,000 24 June - 28 June Berlin, Germany Grand Slam $300,000 01 July - 05 July Stavanger, Norway Open $150,000 15 July - 19 July Marseille, France Grand Slam $270,000 MEN 30 July - 02 Aug Klagenfurt, Austria Grand slam $260,000 06 Aug - 10 Aug Osaka, Japan Open $150,000 DATE COUNTRY PRIZE MONEY 13 Aug - 17 Aug Maoming, China Open $150,000 04 June - 08 June Rhodes, Greece Open $150,000 20 Aug - 24 Aug Bali, Indonesia Open $150,000 18 June - 22 June Gstaad, Switzerland Open $150,000 3 Sept - 7 Sept Milan, Italy Open $150,000 25 June - 29 June Berlin, Germany Grand Slam $300,000 16 Sept - 20 Sept Los Angeles, USA Grand Slam $300,000 02 July - 06 July Stavanger, Norway Open $150,000 08 Oct - 12 Oct Rio de Janeiro, Brazil World Championship $400,000 16 July - 20 July Marseille, France Grand Slam $270,000 TOTAL WOMEN'S PRIZE MONEY USD$2,580,000 23 July - 27 July Espinho, Portugal Open $150,000 31 July - 03 Aug Klagenfurt, Austria Grand Slam $260,000 3 Sept - 7 Sept Mallorca, Spain Open $150,000 17 Sept - 21 Sept Los Angeles, USA Grand Slam $300,000 15 Oct. - 19 Oct Rio de Janeiro, Brazil World Championship $400,000 TOTAL MEN'S PRIZE MONEY USD$2,280,000 TOTAL COMBINED PRIZE MONEY USD$4,860,000 1 Evolution of the SWATCH-FIVB From the beginnings of three legs for men in Brazil, Italy and Japan World Tour involving 40 athletes, from seven countries, women were introduced three years later before the international circuit was revitalized and the World Championship Series was born in 1995. At that point legs It is astonishing to think how international Beach Volleyball has and prize money stood at 17 and US$2.4m respectively thus prompt- evolved into one of the world's most popular global sporting ing the transformation into the now famous World Tour. extravaganzas since it's inauguration 14 years ago. Now, in 2003, the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour provides a gripping From 1989 when the first international Beach Volleyball Tour circuit embracing 22 stops split between men and women with over called the World Series was unleashed in Rio de Janeiro the circuit 700 athletes from more than 50 countries and a record prize money has undergone two name changes and a makeover to become one pool nearing US$5m. Also including for the first time a four-leg of the most dynamic global sporting tournaments in the Grand Slam - a tournament within a tournament - at Berlin, Marseille, world. Klagenfurt, and Los Angeles. 2 The FIVB Beach Volleyball Website Check out the FIVB Beach Volleyball website at: www.fivb.org/EN/BeachVolleyball/index.asp From here you can check out the following: Current results and standings - go to calendar and click on event Player Profil.es: www.fivb.org/EN/BeachVolleyball/Profile/Profiles_list.htm Player Biographies: www.fivb.org/EN/BeachVolleyball/PlayerBios/Player.htm The best players of 2002: www.fivb.org/EN/BeachVolleyball/Best_players%202002.htm Under 21 and Under 18 World Chapionships: www.fivb.org/EN/BeachVolleyball/Competitions/U21/2003/Calendar2003.htm The new Beach Volleyball Handbook: www.fivb.org/EN/BeachVolleyball/Handbook/index.asp 2002 Beach Volleyball News: www.fivb.org/EN/BeachVolleyball/2002%20News.htm From this site we also have links to player websites, 2002 World Tour rankings, national circuits, and lots more...... 3 Beach Volleyball: From Depression Diversion to $$ million Delight Born in the depression days of the 1920s on the sandy beaches of Santa Monica, California, Beach Volleyball has soared to a multi million- dollar extravaganza and an Olympic sport that has captivated players in more than 150 coun- tries. From those first matches the game caught on 10 years later in France, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Latvia before slotting perfectly into the Californian lifestyle in the 1950s and the pulsating 60s, taking its place alongside surfing. Milestones: U.S.A. and Brazil then played a major role in 1920's - The birth of Beach Volleyball on the beaches of Santa Monica, California. transforming "Beach" into a professional sport 1947 - The first official two-man Beach Volleyball tournament held at State Beach, California in the 1970s and '80s but it was the hard work of with no prize money. the FIVB President Dr. Rubén Acosta and Beach 1948 - The first tournament with prizes was played at State Beach, California were the top teams Volleyball stars such as Sinjin Smith, Karch were rewarded with a crate of Pepsi. Kiraly and Randy Stoklos that helped establish 1974 - The first money tournament was held - US$1,500 San Diego Open. 250 spectators. Beach Volleyball internationally in the 1980s 1987 - The first FIVB international competition started called "The World Championship" in Rio and '90s and become a full medal sport at the de Janeiro. It later changes its name to the World Series in 1989-90 and the World Tour in 1996. 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. At the same time 1993 - The International Olympic Committee recognizes Beach Volleyball as an Olympic Games the FIVB Beach Volleyball international circuit discipline. evolved from the World Series to the World 1996 - First appearance (and sold out) at the Atlanta Olympic Games. Tour and exploded in popularity in Europe, 2000 - Beach Volleyball a smash hit at the Sydney Olympic Games with 180,000 spectators and Latin America and Asia. billions of TV viewers. 2001 - More and 120,000 spectators attend five days of competition at the World Championship Now in 2003 Beach Volleyball boasts a 22-event in Austria. World Tour encompassing Europe and the 2003 - The World Tour includes a four-leg "Grand Slam" integrated tournament within a tour- Americas, including the World Championships, nament, challenging the top teams to win "The Slam" and go down in history as truly great in an Olympic-qualifying year with almost US players. Grand Slams in Berlin, Marseille, Klagenfurt and California, each carrying at least $5million in prize money up for grabs. US$260,000 in prize money. 4 Quantum Leap for Beach Volleyball in 2003 When the first ball is served on the beautiful island of Rhodes to launch the SWATCH-FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, it will signal the start of what will be a ground breaking Beach Volleyball season. FIVB's partnership with SWATCH, the new title sponsor and the world's leading makers of tim- ing devices, brings with it fabulous new technical innovations (SWATCH electronic score- boards and measurement of speed of service) and the freshness of a relationship formed to joint- ly promote what has become the summer sport of choice in many countries. This year top players will have the chance to prove they are truly great by cracking the four-leg Grand Slam, as well as to contest the title of titles - the World Championship on the world's most famous beach - Copacabana, Brazil. In addition, in another unique action, FIVB joins forces with Ecoflag, a program of Global Sports Alliance and UNEP, the United Nations Environmental Program, designed to raise environmen- tal awareness through eco-friendly sports practices, a program that has the personal support of FIVB President Dr. Rubén Acosta. This year, the Tour goes to Europe, Asia, North and South America and event organizers are overwhelmed with teams who wish to compete on the elite circuit. The FIVB now hosts two annual Junior World Championships (U-21 and U-18) to nurture the next generation of Beach stars, a process enhanced by national tours popping up in countries all over the world. 5 World Championship returns to its spiritual home A Grand Slam of an idea The month was October, the year 1986, the place Prague and Just when you thought the SWATCH FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour was the FIVB Congress made a decision to launch the inaugural enough to whet the appetite the introduction of a new four-leg Grand Slam international Beach Volleyball competition, the World this year promises to inject further spice having opened the possibility for a Championship, to kick start what has evolved into a global team to claim "The Grand Slam". sporting extravaganza. Four tournaments on the World Tour - Berlin, Germany in June, Marseille, Since it's spectacular debut in 1987 on the fabulous Copacabana Beach in Brazil, France in July, Klagenfurt, Austria in August and California, USA for the final the World Championship has gathered immense prestige and importance. It is leg in September will each carry high prestige as being one of the Grand Slam therefore fitting that in 2003 the most important event on the calendar returns to legs, carrying US$300,000 in prize money. its spiritual home on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. Should a team succeed in winning all four tournaments, they, as Grand Slam Brazil hosted the "World Championships" every year from 1987 to 1995. Then in Champions, will not only go down in the annals of the history of our sport, 1997 a new-look World Championships was staged in Los Angeles and the deci- but they will also attract admiration from their peers and the sport's aficiona- sion was made to stage the event every two years. Since then, France (1999) and dos. This sporting concept, already entrenched in traditional sports such as Austria (2001) have both hosted the celebrated event. tennis and golf, will create a real sporting challenge to top teams and serve up another delectable appetizer for all Beach Volleyball fans.