Doha, Qatar, May 6, 2017 – Doha, Qatar is the latest city to join the outstanding FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour following the confirmation of a two-star tournament for men in 2018 with the possibility of changing to a three-star double gender event in 2019 and 2020.
In an elaborate signing ceremony at the national federation headquarters on the sidelines of the
Aspire Qatar Master tournament on Saturday, Qatar Volleyball Federation President Ali Ghanim Al-Kuwari signed an agreement with FIVB Beach Volleyball Events Director Angelo Squeo to confirm the three-year deal.
The tournament, which is expected to be held in February or March on the back of the Kish Island tournament in Iran, will be part of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Qualification process and is likely to be staged at the colosseum in the Katara cultural village, which is located on the eastern coast between West Bay and the Pearl in Doha.
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The contract signing ceremony followed a fruitful meeting on Friday which featured Mr Al-Kuwari and Arab Volleyball Confederation Vice President and Oman Volleyball Federation President H.E. Badar Bin Ali Bin Saed al-Rwasi, Arab Volleyball Confederation Vice President and Lebanon Volleyball Federation Vice President Ali Khalife Haider and Arab Volleyball Confederation member and Yeman Volleyball Association President Mohsen Ahmed Saleh Rabed where tournament opportunities in the Persian Gulf region were discussed with Mr Squeo.
Qatar Volleyball Federation President Ali Ghanim Al-Kuwari signing the agreement with FIVB Beach Volleyball Events Director Angelo Squeo“We’re happy to announce that we’ll host the FIVB Beach World Tour event next year again," Mr Al-Kuwari said. "In the first year, it will be a two-star event. Then we’ll upgrade it to three-star and four-star each year.
“We want to thank the FIVB for another opportunity to work with the world body for giving the sport a boost. The sport is fast developing and the teams are getting stronger in the Middle East. This deal may broaden the base of the beach volleyball in the region as well.”
The agreement was signed for three years - 2018-2020
“We’re aiming to grow beach volleyball in the Middle East," Mr Squeo said. "I see a team spirit in this region to go to the next level in this sport and the potential is good. If we work hard for three or four years in this region, the teams here could be competitive at the world level.
“I have already seen a lot of interest for beach volleyball in this area. Qatar has just hosted an AVC Tour event and it is again going to be part of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour next year following Iran, which hosts the Kish Island Open.
“We have to play the sport at all levels, especially the grass-root one where we want to involve as many players as possible."
Representatives from Yeman, Lebanon and Oman also part of the signing ceremony
On Satruday, the
AVC Beach Tour Aspire Qatar Master concluded with the home pair of Jefferson Santos Pereira and Cherif Younousse clinching the title with a 2-1 victory over Australians Chris McGrath and Damien Schumann.
With Qatar putting a lot of emphasis on the beach volleyball development not only in the country but also in the region, the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour return here would certainly be more than welcomed.
Qatar have done remarkably well in beach volleyball and their base is growing fast. In recent years, Qatar figured in the
FIVB Beach World Championships the Netherlands 2015 where they qualified for the quarterfinals. Then Qatar also made it to the
Rio Olympics after winning the Continental qualification event and reached the last 16 stage. Their lead pair of Pereira and Younousse also won the Kish Island Open last year.
Doha has already hosted three FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Men's events from 2014-2016 with Germany (twice) and Italy claiming gold.
Previous Doha Tournament Winners
Qatar has outstanding facilities for beach volleyball and volleyballThe FIVB Beach Volleyball 2017
calendar runs from February to August with the signature event to be staged July 28 through August 6 in Austria when Vienna hosts the $1m
FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships for men and women on Danube Island.
The
FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour this year visits 21 cities in 17 countries over a seven-month period, with the season starting in Fort Lauderdale, USA in February and ending in August in Hamburg, Germany with the
Swatch FIVB World Tour Finals.
About the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour: From 1989 when the first international Beach Volleyball Tour called the World Series was unleashed in Rio de Janeiro, the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour has become a series of dynamic global sporting events each year. From the beginning in 1989 of three legs of men’s competition in Brazil, Italy and Japan involving 40 athletes from seven countries, the international Beach Volleyball Tour introduced women’s play three years later before the now famous World Tour was born. The number of events gradually increased through the years as more countries sought a place on the beach volleyball international calendar. The year 2015 saw the introduction of the Swatch FIVB Major Series, culminating with the Swatch FIVB Beach Volleyball Season Final in Fort Lauderdale, USA. Announced in June 2016 for the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour between 2017 and 2020, all events on the international circuit will be assigned a star rating between one and five. The “star structure” is one of the many steps taken by the FIVB, under the leadership of President Dr. Ary S. Graça F°, to modernize and streamline its competitions.About the FIVB: The FIVB is the governing body responsible for all forms of volleyball on a global level. Working closely with its 222 National Federations and private enterprises, the FIVB aims to develop volleyball as a major world media and entertainment sport through world-class planning and organisation of competitions, marketing and development activities. The FIVB is recognised as the sole competent authority in volleyball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), contributing to the success of the Olympic Games.