Russia to host FIVB Beach Volleyball  Open in Anapa

The second of five double-gender open events in 2013, Russia will host the second double-gender FIVB Beach Volleyball Open under the new tournament structure when the FIVB Anapa Open is held July 23-28.

As part of a new development strategy focused on the new Olympic cycle, the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Council decided that FIVB Beach Volleyball Opens would no longer be part of the World Tour in 2013, putting in place an intermediate property that provides more opportunities for athletes worldwide to play.

With a total of seven FIVB Beach Volleyball Opens on the 2013 calendar comprised of five double-gender and two women-only tournaments, there are numerous possibilities for athletes to compete in high quality, international competition. Over the course of the year more Open events could be added to the schedule, ensuring that all five Confederations will host an FIVB event in 2013.

With a guaranteed purse of US$75,000 per gender, the bonus pool will push the total purse for the event to nearly $120,000 per gender.

Anapa becomes the third Russian city to host a FIVB beach volleyball international event joining Moscow and St. Petersburg. On the 2013 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, the Moscow Grand Slam will be held August 21-25.

The 2013 FIVB World Ranking system will include Beach Volleyball events at inter-continental, continental and national levels. In another significant change, the format of all the tournaments – whether FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships, FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Grand Slam or a FIVB Beach Volleyball Open – will be the same, featuring pool play followed by single elimination rounds.

Anapa is a town in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, located on the northern coast of the Black Sea near the Sea of Azov. Anapa is a tourist destination with a permanent population of just over 60,000 people. Anapa, like the other Black Sea coast resorts, has a superb sunny summer climate. Anapa has beautiful, mostly sandy beaches.