No 136 June 2005 English edition FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE VOLLEYBALL 2005 Swatch-FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships powered by Smart The best event ever – connecting the world! The Swatch-FIVB World all media could realize Championships in Berlin will features on sport, fash- be remembered for many out- ion, health, tourism, etc. Moreover, twelve TV standing achievements. Among cameras and 75 employ- them, the large worldwide media ees and an expert TV pro- exposure, the quality and place- ducer have realized per- ment of the venue, the quality fect pictures transferring of the games and the profes- in each house the best of sionalism of the organizers. the games. More than 140 countries in 5 continents A total of 96 teams (192 players) from 26 had easy access to the countries competed in the mixed gen- event. der event, from June 21 to 26, includ- ing Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Within the perimeter of Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cuba, Esto- Marcio Araujo and Fábio Magalhaes of Brazil the venue Beach Vol- at the top of the World Championship for the first time nia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, leyball fans could have Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New access to the 8000 seats Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, capacity stadium, 2000 seats secondary promoted the event and supported the Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and stadium, 4 additional competition courts organizers in granting the quality which the United States. and 2 warm-up courts. a World Championships requires. They succeeded to bring for 1 week a wonder- ful sand resort in Berlin downtown and to run the most important FIVB Beach Volleyball competition in the world. As a result, thousands of Berliners and tourists are now affected by a Beach mania! Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh again proved why they are the best wom- en’s Beach Volleyball team on the planet as the Americans successfully defended their Swatch-FIVB World Champion- ship. The gold medal will continue to reside with a team from a South American country as Marcio Araujo and Fábio Magalhães captured the 2005 title by Fábio Magalhaes (right) of Brazil against Sascha Heyer (SUI) during gold medal match defeating Sascha Heyer and Paul Laciga of Switzerland. As at the Olympic Games, almost each In the press area, 250 day of the event, the best Beach Vol- journalists from all leyball athletes in the world received a over the world could tremendous exposure. work for almost one week in perfect facil- Some of the players who were nearly ity which enabled all unknown to the large public become after of them to connect this World Championships real stars as the event with its fact they could be able to transmit emotion & feats to the rest of and energy to thousands of spectators the world. and millions of TV viewers at home Another important while some of the already established achievement was teams confirmed their status. the involvement of the city and senate Women’s podium (left to right): Larissa, Juliana, Misty The accessibility of the Beach Volleyball for sports of Ber- May-Treanor, Kerri Walsh, Jian Tia and Wang Fei players made possible that every day lin which heavily Find out more at www.fivb.org Volleyball VOLLEYBALL Cuba was ahead with a better set average. Bulgaria (4-6) and France (4-6) were also 2005 World League still contention after they split both their Final Round spots in Pools B & C remained open matches including an epic 3-2 (21-25, 25- 22, 23-25, 25-23, 15-11) wan to France. Champions for the past lent 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-22) win, they two years Brazil defended collapsed badly as Venezuela triumphed Pool C continued to keep fans on the their crown in the Final 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-19), eliminating Por- edge of their seats heading into the Round in Belgrade after tugal from the race. Pool A saw Brazil final weekend after Serbia & Montenegro securing the Pool A ticket on top (9-1), Portugal second (6-4) and silenced over 11,000 local fans when they following two straight set Venezuela third (5-5). pipped Poland on Saturday in a mara- victories over Japan in Sao In Pool B, Cuba and Italy were neck thon five-set cliff hanger 3-2 (23-25, 23-25, Paulo during Week Five of the Inter- and neck after the 2004 silver medallists 25-20, 25-21, 15-10) in Katowice. Poland continental Round, while their closest fought back from a 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25- had beaten Serbia & Montenegro 3-1 rivals Portugal split their matches with 21) defeat with an impressive 3-1 (25-20, (20-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-20) moving them Venezuela. 23-25, 29-27, 25-19) win in Havana in to a 7-3 record, however, second placed front of 16,000 fans. The eight-time World Greece couldn’t capitalize after they split Portugal needed to do the double in League champions sited level with Cuba their matches with Argentina including a Caracas and after completing an excel- with six wins and four losses, although 3-1 (15-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-20) defeat. Attack by Morsut (ITA) on Cuba’s double blocking Poles celebrate fine action VOLLEYBALL Start of the 2005 World Grand Prix Four thrilling weeks! The World Grand Prix is in Group A in Tokyo. Italy, Cuba, Ger- a prestigious, world-class many, and the Dominican Republic will competition that each contend in Group B in Reggio Calabria. year brings together 12 of And finally China, the Netherlands, the volleyball’s top women’s United States and Thailand will battle teams. The feminine grace, it out in Ningbo, China. The final of emotion, and outstanding the World Grand Prix will take place technique of the players make this a in Sendai, Japan. But before they reach thrilling contest! This year again, as in Sendai, the athletes will have played 2004, a large part of the tournament is in preliminary rounds in Macau, Seoul, taking place in Asia. Four weeks of fierce Manila, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Tai- struggle with a suspenseful outcome wan... guaranteed. A telling figure: last year, the World Grand Prix was broadcast in “The 2005 World Grand Prix is a competi- 195 countries by more than 20 television tion that is particularly important to me,” networks. said FIVB President Dr. Rubén Acosta. In 2003, for the first time in its history, “First because Women’s Volleyball is the World Grand Prix had to be moved gaining popularity each year and win- to Europe because of the SARS epidemic. ning over fans and media alike. But also That year Italy did an admirable job of because the 2005 World Grand Prix is an hosting the preliminary round and the opportunity for the athletes and their final round. And no one has forgotten entourage to enter a preparatory phase last year’s fantastic final in which Brazil with a view to the World Championship Berg Lindsey (USA) attacking triumphed over Italy in Reggio Calabria! Final, next year in Japan. A good number Sugayama Kaoru (JPN 6) This year, this city will be hosting the of the teams competing this year will Group B competition. undoubtly be back in November 2006!” For the preliminary rounds, the twelve Today, the World Grand Prix kicks off China-Thailand, Cuba-Germany and teams are divided into three pools. Japan, with the following matches: Brazil- Italy-Dominican Republic. More detailed Brazil, Korea and Poland will compete Korea, USA-Netherlands, Japan-Poland, information on our website. 2 FIVB X-Press No 136 June 2005 Volleyball 2006 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Results of Tournaments Men & Women in First, second and third rounds Result per set (points) Result per set (points) Date Teams Set Total Pts Time Audience Date Teams Set Total Pts Time Audience 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 2006 Men’s WC / First Round / United Arab Emirates - 28 May-02 June 2005 2006 Women’s WC / First Round / Bridgetown, Barbados - 15-19 June 2005 28-May MDV-QAT 0-3 17-25 16-25 17-25 50-75 1:14 1000 17-Jun DMA-SKN 3-2 21-25 25-22 18-25 25-17 15-12 104-101 1:40 350 28-May UAE-JOR 3-1 25-16 17-25 30-28 25-21 97-90 1:36 2000 17-Jun ANG-BAR 0-3 24-26 15-25 13-25 52-76 1:01 1200 29-May OMA-QAT 0-3 15-25 26-28 19-25 60-78 1:09 350 18-Jun ANG-SKN 0-3 21-25 25-27 13-25 59-77 1:13 250 29-May MDV-JOR 0-3 18-25 14-25 20-25 52-75 1:09 500 18-Jun BAR-DMA 3-0 25-18 25-16 25-16 75-50 0:55 500 30-May UAE-OMA 3-2 23-25 25-19 25-23 20-25 15-11 108-103 1:49 3000 19-Jun ANG-DMA 1-3 25-22 13-25 17-25 20-25 75-97 1:25 300 30-May JOR-QAT 2-3 23-25 27-25 17-25 25-19 11-15 103-109 1:45 750 19-Jun BAR-SKN 3-0 25-13 25-7 25-21 75-41 0:58 1500 01-Jun OMA-JOR 0-3 25-27 19-25 19-25 63-77 1:15 1200 01-Jun UAE-MDV 3-0 25-15 25-19 25-18 75-52 1:15 3000 2006 Men’s WC / Second Round / Tehran, Iran - 22-24 June 2005 02-Jun MDV-OMA 1-3 25-21 25-27 22-25 22-25 94-98 1:40 800 22-Jun UZB-QAT 0-3 24-26 15-25 19-25 58-76 1:08 600 02-Jun UAE-QAT 2-3 25-20 22-25 25-20 18-25 11-15 101-105 2:15 3000 22-Jun IRI-AUS 3-0 25-19 25-21 25-19 75-59 1:23 2500 23-Jun QAT-AUS 0-3 24-26 21-25 13-25 58-76 1:15 800 2006 Women’s WC / Second Round / Athens, Greece - 10-12 June 2005 23-Jun IRI-UZB 3-0 25-21 25-16 25-21 75-58 1:10 1600 10-Jun UKR-FRA 3-0 25-19 25-17 25-11 75-47 1:05 250 24-Jun AUS-UZB 3-0 25-14 25-15 25-15 75-44 1:00 900 10-Jun GRE-BLR 3-0 25-19 25-22 25-19 75-60 1:18 450 24-Jun IRI-QAT 3-0 25-16 25-18 25-19 75-53 1:12 3500 11-Jun FRA-BLR 1-3 25-27 25-19 19-25 18-25 87-96 1:37 200 11-Jun UKR-GRE 3-0 25-15 25-8 25-19 75-42 1:10 800 2006 Men’s WC / Second Round / Chennai, India - 24-26 June 2005 12-Jun BLR-UKR 0-3 13-25 16-25 23-25 52-75 1:08 200 24-Jun CHN-THA 3-0 25-19 25-15 25-21 75-55 1:10 4000 12-Jun GRE-FRA 2-3 18-25 19-25 25-20 25-23 13-15 100-108 1:56 600 24-Jun IND-INA 3-2 24-26 25-20 25-23 21-25 15-13 110-107