Returning for a record 17th consecutive year on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour calendar, Switzerland will once again host the extremely popular double-gender $600,000 Swatch FIVB Gstaad Major, the third of four events on the third year of the Swatch FIVB Major Series which is part of the FIVB World Tour.

A total of 35 previous FIVB World Tour events have been staged in the picturesque Swiss village of Gstaad, including 17 straight men’s events and 18 consecutive women’s events.

The men’s championship team of the 2015 Swatch FIVB Gstaad Major was Brazil’s Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt. Winning the 2015 women’s gold medal in Gstaad was Brazil’s Talita Antunes/Larissa Franca.

In 2016, Brazilian teams won both gold medals. The men’s gold medal winning team in Gstaad was Pedro Solberg/Evandro Goncalves and the women’s gold medal team was again Talita/Larissa.

Gstaad is a picturesque village in the German-speaking section of the Canton of Bern in southwestern Switzerland in the shadow of the majestic Swiss Alps. It is part of the municipality of Saanen and is known as a major ski resort and a popular destination amongst the high society and the international jet set. Gstaad has a permanent population of about 3,200 and is located 1,050 metres (3,445 feet) above sea level, making it the highest altitude venue for a FIVB World Tour event.

A total of 20 countries will host events this year in the 2017 FIVB World Tour, with 25 total events planned highlighted by the 2017 FIVB World Championships, a 48-team (per gender) event to be held July 28-August 6 in Vienna, Austria.