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3 Table of Contents 01 2 Message of the FIVB President Dr Rubén Acosta 3 FIVB History & Mission 4 Beach Volleyball History & Facts 5 Evolution of the Swatch-FIVB World Tour Preview Calendar 2003 & 2002 Calendars with Results Men s Top Participating Teams Women s Top Participating Teams Men s World Rankings Women s World Rankings Countdown to the Athens Olympics Olympic Beach Volleyball Numbers Rules For You Referees Hand Signals FIVB TV Exposure and Property Ecoflag FAQ S Growth Plan 48 FIVB Contact Details

4 Message of the FIVB President We know Beach Volleyball is a magic mix of sport and entertainment and it is enjoying phenomenal growth in many countries, so it is pleasing to welcome another feast of Beach Volleyball action on the Swatch-FIVB World Tour in The season promises to be outstanding with the highlight obviously being the Olympic Games in Athens in August guaranteeing fantastic competition season long with men s and women s teams gunning for Olympic qualification. It is clear that the interest in Beach Volleyball is exploding and the sport is entering a new era of rapid expansion across all areas including television and media. The phenomenal success enjoyed at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games has created a wave of popularity in many countries and it is set to continue again this year, which features an improved calendar including events in five continents, prize money of nearly 5.5 million dollars as well as the five rings competition in Athens. This definitively represents the best calendar ever in the young history of Beach Volleyball and it confirms the positive decisions made by the FIVB and its partners and creates a solid platform to further promote Beach Volleyball at all levels and all over the world. And with an ever-growing sponsorship family - now including Swatch, Credit Suisse, Nike and Mikasa - perfectly suited to the energy and lifestyle of Beach Volleyball and the increased presence of media, we look forward to working hand-in-hand again with all players, coaches, officials, promoters, journalists and sponsors to develop Beach Volleyball even further, on a scale that will retain it as one of the world's most popular summer activities and a hit with public and media alike. Keep the ball flying! Dr. Rubén Acosta Hernandez FIVB President

5 The FIVB History & Mission 03 The seeds of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball were sown at a meeting in the Graf Coffee House in Prague when the Polish, French and (then) Czechoslovak Volleyball Federations discussed declarations of support from the Italian, Yugoslav, Romanian, and Belgian Federations suggesting an autonomous Volleyball commission. Subsequently, the organization of a first Constitutive Congress was entrusted to the President of the French Volleyball Federation, Paul Libaud, and it took place in Paris from April 18 to 20, 1947 with the participation of 14 Federations. The FIVB was born! Mr Paul Libaud was elected first President of the FIVB shortly afterwards and the headquarters were established in Paris, where they remained for the first 37 years until The first World Championships were organised (1949 for men and 1952 for women) and have since remained the biggest event in Volleyball. In 1957 the International Olympic Committee included Volleyball as a medal sport in the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo while Beach Volleyball made its Olympic debut at the 1996 Atlanta Games. him at the World Congress in Long Beach, California, USA. The FIVB moved its headquarters to Lausanne, Switzerland the same year bringing it closer to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Very soon after Dr. Acosta became Volleyball's ambassador, promoting the sport in worldwide competitions held in the five continents (Asia, Africa, Europe, South America and Norceca). Now in 2004 and consisting of 218 affiliated federations, the FIVB governs, manages and communicates all forms of Volleyball and Beach Volleyball worldwide. It aims to develop Volleyball as a major world media and entertainment sport through world class planning and organisation of competitions, marketing and promotional activities. A big turning point for the FIVB came in 1984 when President Paul Libaud, by then in his late 70s and highly acclaimed for having founded the Federation and making it a significant reality on the world sports stage, resigned while Dr. Rubén Acosta Hernandez was elected new President to succeed

6 Beach Volleyball History & Facts Beach Volleyball: From Depression Diversion to $$ million Delight Born in the depression days of the 1920s in California, Beach Volleyball has soared to a multi million dollar extravaganza and an Olympic sport that has reached 150 countries. The game soon caught on in Europe before slotting perfectly into the Californian lifestyle in the 1950s and 60s. USA and Brazil then played a major role in transforming "Beach" into a professional sport but it was the hard work of the FIVB President Dr. Rubén Acosta and stars such as Sinjin Smith and Karch Kiraly that established Beach Volleyball internationally in the 1980s-90s, becoming an Olympic sport at the 1996 Atlanta Games. At the same time the FIVB Beach Volleyball international circuit evolved from the World Series to the World Tour and exploded in popularity in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Now in 2004 Beach Volleyball boasts a 25-event World Tour encompassing Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas with the Athens Olympics the highlight. Milestones 1920's Birth of Beach Volleyball in Santa Monica, California First official two-person Beach Volleyball tournament held at State Beach, California First money tournament the US$1,500 San Diego Open First FIVB international competition called "The World Championship" in Rio de Janeiro. It later changes its name to the World Series in and the World Tour in First appearance at the Olympic Games Beach Volleyball becomes a smash hit at the Sydney Olympic Games with 180,000 spectators and millions of TV viewers More than 120,000 spectators attend World Championship in Austria Swatch-FIVB World Tour includes four-leg "Grand Slam" each carrying US$300,000 in prize money An amazing 25 tournaments, including three-leg Grand Slam, of which 16 are included in the Olympic qualifying process, with record prize money of US$5,120,000.

7 Evolution of the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour 05 It is astonishing to think how international Beach Volleyball has evolved into one of the world s most popular global sporting extravaganzas since its inauguration 15 years ago. From 1989 when the first international Beach Volleyball Tour called the World Series was unleashed in Rio de Janeiro the circuit has undergone two name changes and a makeover to become one of the most dynamic global sporting tournaments in the world. Now, in 2004, the season is a landmark for Beach Volleyball, having scheduled 25 tournaments (14 men and 11 women), with US$5,120,000 in Prize Money, a three-leg Grand Slam (Berlin, Marseille and Klagenfurt), plus the year's highlight being the final assignment of 24 men and 24 women vacancies for the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece from August From the beginnings of a three leg season for men in Brazil, Italy and Japan 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 At that point legs and prize money stood at 17 and US$2.4m respectively thus prompting the transformation into the now famous World Tour. In 2003, the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour embraced 22 stops split between men and women with over 700 athletes from more than 50 countries and a record prize money pool nearing US$5m. While a four-leg Grand Slam, taking in Berlin, Marseille, Klagenfurt, and Los Angeles was included for the first time.

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9 2004 Preview 07 Another gigantic season in store for Beach in 2004 Following a ground-breaking season last year, 2004 has raised the bar again with 25 tournaments and record prize money of US$5,120,000 with the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens guaranteed to be the highlight. With the Swatch-FIVB World Tour starting in March in Brazil before crossing five different continents and returning to Brazil for the season-ending finale in September, Beach Volleyball players, fans and enthusiasts are in for a thrilling season, especially with qualification for the Olympic Games also in full swing. The Olympic Games in Athens in August (August 14-25) is the event of the year, with over 700 athletes and 50 teams vying for a ticket to the world s sporting spectacle. Since the Swatch-FIVB World Tour is the only recognized circuit for Olympic qualification, the 2004 season is certain to be intense with 24 vacancies up for grabs in both genders. Sixteen of the 25 tournaments on the Swatch-FIVB World Tour have Olympic qualification points up for grabs and will make for a fascinating countdown towards the greatest sporting event of our era. But while the Olympic Games will play a big part in the 2004 season, the race to become World Ranking champions will also attract much interest with the Brazilian men's pairing of Ricardo and Emanuel and the women's duo of Ana Paula and Sandra Pires defending their 2003 titles. Three Grand Slams in Berlin, Marseille and Klagenfurt will also feature while an unprecedented number of Challenger and Satellite events promises to make 2004 a highly successful and dynamic year for Beach Volleyball.

10 2004 Calendar Women's 2004 Calendar OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENTS IN BLACK Dates Country Event and Site Host Broadcaster Prize Money 09 March-14 March Brazil Open Fortaleza SPORT TV / TV Globo US$ 180, May 23 May Greece Open Rhodes ERT / Antena US$ 180, May 30 May China Open Shanghai Great Sport Channel US$ 180, June - 06 June Japan Open Osaka MBS, Inc / TBS US$ 180, June 19 June Switzerland Open Gstaad SRG SSR/ SF DRS US$ 180, June 26 June Germany Grand Slam Berlin ZDF US$ 300, June 03 July Norway Open Stavanger TV Vest / NRK US$ 180, July 18 July France Grand Slam Marseille TMC US$ 280, July 31 July Austria Grand Slam Klagenfurt ORF US$ 270, August 24 August Athens Greece Olympic Games 01 Sept. 05 Sept. Italy Open Milan La 7 US$ 180, Sept. 25 Sept. Brazil Open Rio de Janeiro SPORT TV / TV Globo US$ 180,000 Prize Money US$ 1,225, 000 Bonus Pool US$ 1,065,000 Total : US$ 2,290,000 Men's 2004 Calendar OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENTS IN BLACK Dates Country Event and Site Host Broadcaster Prize Money 16 March 21 March Brazil Open Salvador SPORT TV/TV Globo US$ 180, March 28 March South Africa Open Cape Town MNET Super Sport US$ 180, May 23 May China Open Lianyungang GSC / CCTV US$ 180, May 30 May Serbia Mont. Open Budva RT Crne Gore US$ 180, June 06 June Portugal Open Espinho RTP US$ 180, June 13 June Puerto Rico Open Carolina Canal 13 US$ 180, June 20 June Switzerland Open Gstaad SF DRS/SRG SSR US$ 180, June 27 June Germany Grand Slam Berlin ZDF US$ 300, July 04 July Norway Open Stavanger TV Vest / NRK US$ 180, July 18 July France Grand Slam Marseille TMC US$ 280, July 25 July Poland Open Stare Jablonki TVP / Polsat US$ 180, July 01 Aug. Austria Grand Slam Klagenfurt ORF US$ 270, August 25 August Athens Greece Olympic Games 01 Sept. 05 Sept. Spain Open Mallorca TVE/TELEDEPORTE US$ 180, Sept. 26 Sept. Brazil Open Rio de Janeiro SPORT TV /TV Globo US$ 180,000 Prize Money US$1,525, 000 Bonus Pool US$1,305,000 Total : US$ 2,830,000 as at 01/05/2004

11 2003 and 2002 Calendars with results Men s SWATCH-FIVB World Tour Date Tournament Winners 04 June - 08 June Greece Open, Rhodes 1) Blanton-Nygaard (USA), 2) Benjamin-Araujo (BRA), 3) Berger-Doppler (AUT) 18 June - 22 June Switzerland Open, Gstaad 1) Benjamin-Araujo (BRA), 2) Dieckmann-Reckerman (GER), 3) Kobel-Heuscher (SUI) 25 June - 29 June Germany Grand Slam, Berlin 1) Harley-Franco (BRA), 2) Baracetti-Conde (ARG), 3) Ricardo-Emanuel (BRA) 02 July - 06 July Norway Open, Stavenger 1) Ricardo-Emanuel (BRA), 2) Baracetti-Conde (ARG), 3) Prosser-Williams 16 July - 20 July France Grand Slam, Marseille 1) Ricardo-Emanuel (BRA), 2) M Laciga-P Laciga (SUI), 3) Blanton-Nygaard (USA) 23 July - 27 July Portugal Open, Espinho 1) Ricardo-Emanuel (BRA), 2) Kjemperud-Hoidalen (NOR), 3) Schacht-Slack (AUS) 31 July - 03 Aug. Austria Grand Slam, Klagenfurt 1) Benjamin-Araujo (BRA), 2) Metzger-Wong (USA), 3) Kobel-Heuscher (SUI) 3 Sept. - 7 Sept. Spain Open, Mallorca 1) Benjamin-Araujo (BRA), 2) Dieckmann-Reckerman (GER), 3) Baracetti-Conde (ARG) 18 Sept Sept. USA Grand Slam, Carson (LA) 1) Ricardo-Emanuel (BRA), 2) Heyer-Egger (SUI), 3) Whitmarsh-Ceman (USA) 14 Oct Oct. World Championship, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1) Ricardo-Emanuel (BRA), 2) Holdren-Metzger (USA), 3) Benjamin-Araujo (BRA) 2003 Women s SWATCH-FIVB World Tour 11 June - 15 June Greece Open, Rhodes 1) Ana Paula-Pires (BRA), 2) Behar-Shelda (BRA), 3) Walsh-May (USA) 17 June - 21 June Switzerland Open, Gstaad 1) Walsh-May (USA), 2) Ana Paula-Pires (BRA), 3) Behar-Shelda (BRA) 24 June - 28 June Germany, Grand Slam, Berlin 1) Ana Paula-Pires (BRA), 2) McPeak-Youngs (USA), 3) Behar-Shelda (BRA) 01 July - 05 July Norway Open, Stavenger 1) Ana Paula-Pires (BRA), 2) Walsh-May (USA), 3) Behar-Shelda (BRA) 15 July - 19 July France Grand Slam, Marseille 1) Walsh-May (USA), 2) Ana Paula-Pires (BRA), 3) Behar-Shelda (BRA) 30 July - 02 Aug Austria Grand Slam, Klagenfurt 1) Walsh-May (USA), 2) Ana Paula-Pires (BRA), 3) Behar-Shelda (BRA) 06 Aug.- 10 Aug. Japan Open, Osaka 1) Ana Paula-Pires (BRA), 2) Behar-Shelda (BRA), 3) Cook-Sanderson (AUS) 13 Aug Aug China Open, Lianyungang 1) Kadijka-Leenstra (NED), 2) Lahme-Musche (GER), 3) Cook-Sanderson (AUS) 20 Aug Aug Indonesia Open, Bali 1) Jia-Fei (CHN), 2) Peraza-Grasset (CUB), 3) Celbova-Novakova (CZE) 3 Sept. - 7 Sept. Italy Open, Milan 1) Jia-Fei (CHN), 2) Behar-Shelda (BRA), 3) Mason-DeNecochea (USA) 18 Sept Sept. USA Grand Slam, Carson (LA) 1) Walsh-May (USA), 2) Ana Paula-Pires (BRA), 3) Cook-Sanderson (AUS) 07 Oct Oct. World Championship, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1) Walsh-May (USA), 2) Behar-Shelda (BRA), 3) Cook-Sanderson (AUS) 2002 Men s SWATCH-FIVB World Tour June Germany Open, Berlin 1) Para-Harley (BRA), 2) Baracetti-Conde (ARG), 3) Dieckmann M-Reckermann (GER) June Switzerland Open, Gstaad 1) Baracetti-Conde (ARG), 2) Marcio Araujo-Benjamin (BRA), 3) Wong-Metzger (USA) 3-7 July Norway Open, Stavenger 1) Emanuel-Tande (BRA), 2) Ricardo-Loiola (BRA), 3) Heuscher-Kobel (SUI) July Canada Open, Montreal 1) Ricardo-Loiola (BRA), 2) Child-Heese (CAN), 3) Wong-Metzger (USA ) July France Grand Slam, Marseille 1) Ricardo-Loiola (BRA), 2) Alvarez-Rosell (CUB), 3) Emanuel-Tande (BRA) July Portugal Open, Espinho 1) Wong-Metzger (USA), 2) Marcio Araujo-Benjamin (BRA), 3) Ricardo-Loiola (BRA) 31 July - 4 August Austria Grand Slam, Klagenfurt 1) Ricardo-Loiola (BRA), 2) Heyer-Egger (SUI), 3) Kjemperud-Hoidalen (NOR) 7-11 August Spain Open, Cadiz 1) Laciga P.-Laciga M. (SUI), 2) Holden-Leinemann (CAN), 3) Emanuel-Tande (BRA) 4-8 September Spain Open, Mallorca 1) Laciga P-Laciga M (SUI), 2) Marcio Araujo-Benjamin (BRA), 3) Ricardo-Emanuel (BRA) 1-6 October Brazil Open, Fortaleza 1) Marcio Araujo-Benjamin (BRA), 2) Wong-Metzger (USA), 3) Ricardo-Emanuel (BRA) 2002 Women s SWATCH-FIVB World Tour 5-9 June Spain Open, Madrid 1) Walsh-May (USA), 2) Ana Paula-Minello (BRA), 3) Pottharst-Cook (AUS) June Switzerland Open, Gstaad 1) Walsh-May (USA), 2) Adriana Behar-Shelda (BRA), 3) Pottharst-Cook (AUS) 2-6 July Norway Open, Stavenger 1) McPeak-Youngs (USA), 2) Pottharst-Cook (AUS), 3) Adriana Behar-Shelda (BRA) 9-13 July Canada Open, Montreal 1) Walsh-May (USA), 2) Adriana Behar-Shelda (BRA), 3) McPeak-Youngs (USA) July France Grand Slam, Marseille 1) McPeak-Youngs (USA), 2) Walsh-May (USA), 3) Pottharst-Cook (AUS) July Greace Open, Rhodes 1) McPeak-Youngs (USA), 2) Pottharst-Cook (AUS), 3) Sfyri-Karadassiou (GRE) 31 July-3 August Austria Grand Slam, Klagenfurt 1) Walsh-May (USA), 2) Adriana Behar-Shelda (BRA), 3) McPeak-Youngs (USA) 7-11 August Japan Open, Osaka 1) Adriana Behar-Shelda (BRA), 2) Ana Paula-Minello (BRA), 3) Walsh-May (USA) August China Open, Maoming 1) Walsh-May (USA), 2) McPeak-Youngs (USA), 3) Pottharst-Cook (AUS) 3-7 September Spain Open, Mallorca 1) Adriana Behar-Shelda (BRA), 2) Walsh-May (USA), 3) Ana Paula-Minello (BRA) September Brazil Open, Vitoria 1) McPeak-Youngs (USA), 2) Walsh-May (USA), 3) Ana Paula-Minello (BRA)

12 Men s Top Participating Teams

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14 Men s Top Participating Teams Name: Mariano Baracetti Age (birth date): Height: 194 cm Hometown: Buenos Aires, CF Name: Martin Alejo Conde Age (birth date): Height: 186 cm Hometown: Los Cristianos-Arona, Tenerife ARG Baracetti and Conde Mariano Baracetti and Martin Conde suffered more disappointments than they would have liked during the 2003 Swatch FIVB World Tour, however these Argentineans relish a challenge and no matter who they come up against in 2004, the former world champions will command much respect. The year was 2001; the location Klagenfurt, Austria and the newly formed team of Baracetti and Conde beat all who stepped before them on their way to winning the World Championship for the first time before claiming the 2001 World Tour title. When asked about their general success as a unit, Baracetti said the good "chemistry" he shares with Conde contributes a lot. "We compliment each other," he noted. "That helps because being partners is a bit like a marriage. You have to be together all the time and be able to count on one another." Yet some of that chemistry appeared to go missing mid-way through 2003 and the team suffered several surprise defeats in a number of tournaments, none more so than when they slipped out of the World Championships in Brazil in the round of 32. Life has been very good to me, and I am able to take things as they come, Mariano Baracetti said on the 2003 performance. Sometimes you win and things are going well, and then sometimes things are not so good." Team results 2003: Gstaad, SUI 5th / Berlin, GER 2nd / Stavanger, NOR 2nd / Marseille, FRA 17th / Espinho, POR 9th / Klagenfurt, AUT 9th / Mallorca, ESP 3rd / Los Angeles, USA 9th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 17th

15 13 Name: Nikolas Berger Age (birth date): Height: 196 cm Hometown: Vienna Name: Clemens Doppler Age (birth date): Height: 200 cm Hometown: Vienna AUT Combining Berger just one year prior to their and Doppler 2003 European Beach Volleyball Championship win, Austria s number one team of Niki Berger and Clemens Doppler have quickly developed into one of the more formidable outfits on the Swatch - FIVB World Tour. A seventh place finish on the final 2003 Swatch-FIVB World Tour standings confirmed the improvements the Berger-Doppler partnership has been making. The left-armed Berger, at 30, is the elder statesman of the team with Doppler the mere baby at only 23 years-of-age, yet the mix of old and young has blended well to give all Austrians a superbly skilled unit to be proud of. Berger started playing Volleyball in 1986 but began dabbling in Beach Volleyball in The charismatic Viennese, who finished ninth at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games with Oliver Tribe, made the change to join Doppler in 2002 and after a slow start managed to record some encouraging results in their first year. Doppler, like Berger, began his career playing Volleyball and although he mixed playing Beach Volleyball and Volleyball from 1996 to 2001 it was with limited success. Our recognition value has increased greatly, Clemens Doppler said on the reaction following their European title triumph in We were on the front page of three major daily newspapers, "Kurier", "Krone" and "Standard". That is usually only accomplished by skiers and football players, not by Beach Volleyball players. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 3rd / Gstaad, SUI 4th / Berlin, GER 9th / Stavanger, NOR 9th / Marseille, FRA 9th / Espinho, POR 9th / Klagenfurt, AUT 5th / Mallorca, ESP 9th / Los Angeles, USA 4th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 17th

16 Men s Top Participating Teams Name: Andrew Schacht Age (birth date): Height: 192 cm Hometown: Adelaide Name: Joshua "Josh" Slack Age (birth date): Height: 191 cm Hometown: Adelaide AUS As each Schacht season passes, so and Slack Australia's finest Joshua Slack and Andrew Schacht have been perfecting their technique and honing their collective skills as they challenge for honours on the Swatch - FIVB World Tour. From their first event together as a team in Fortaleza in 2002 Schacht and Slack have enjoyed huge improvements to their respective careers. Having debuted in Beach Volleyball in 1995, Schacht, a native of Adelaide, had previously spent most of his playing days with Victor Anfilloff. Team results were not promising as the duo failed to find that collective spark and their split eventually came at the end of the 2000 season. Slack, who also hails from the South Australian city of Adelaide, began playing Beach Volleyball in 1999 and also failed to hit the high notes with former playing partners Matthew Grinlaubs and Jarrod Novosel. Thus, the members of team Slack-Schacht were delighted when, in only their first competitive season together they scored a fifth place finish in the Portuguese Open in Espinho to add to the fifth they achieved in Norway. More success was to follow one season later as Slack and Schacht bettered their previous achievement in Espinho when they claimed the bronze medal at the Open event in Portugal. Now they face a race with Julien Prosser and Mark Williams to see who will finish the year as Australia's number one men's team. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 9th / Gstaad, SUI 9th / Berlin, GER 17th / Stavanger, Norway, NOR 17th / Marseille, FRA 17th / Espinho, POR 3rd / Klagenfurt, AUT 25th / Mallorca, ESP 5th / Los Angeles, USA 25th

17 15 Name: Ricardo Alex Costa Santos Age (birth date): Height: 200 cm Hometown: Salvador Name: Emanuel Rego Age (birth date): Height: 190 cm Hometown: Curitiba (PR) BRA Ricardo and Emanuel Brazil s Ricardo Alex Costa Santos and Emanuel Rego teamed up to form a dream combination in 2003, claiming the FIVB- Swatch World Tour and World Championship title, so they begin 2004 as one of the favourites for 2004 Swatch- FIVB World Tour and Olympic Games honours. Although they played two tournaments as a pair in 2002, the 2003 FIVB-Swatch World Tour signaled their first full season together but despite the relatively young age of the amalgamation, collectively Ricardo and Emanuel have over 60 FIVB titles to their name and it s that experience at winning that has helped this team become one of the strongest combinations in the sport. The excellent blend of Ricardo s net domination with Emanuel s improved back court game saw the duo claim five podium finishes in 2003 as they developed an understanding which is destined to reap them further titles. Quote "We're a young team in terms of the time we've been together and I think we can definitely get better before this year's Olympics in Athens," Emanuel said. "I'm starting to read Ricardo s blocking much better and am getting out of his shades. He's a blocking machine - I remember when I used to play against him how difficult it was. "I feel I can focus more on getting high at the net to block because I'm confident in my partner's back-court defence," said Ricardo. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 9th / Gstaad, SUI 9th / Berlin, GER 3rd / Stavanger, NOR 1st / Marseille, FRA 1st / Espinho, POR 1st / Klagenfurt, AUT 5th / Mallorca, ESP 5th / Los Angeles, USA 1st / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 1st

18 Men s Top Participating Teams Name: Marcio Henrique Barroso Araujo Age (birth date): Height: 192 cm Hometown: Fortaleza, CE Name: Benjamin Insfran Age (birth date): Height: 197 cm Hometown: Quebec Sta Lambert BRA Marcio Benjamin and Araujo and Benjamin Marcio Araujo Insfran are capable of some exceptional results on the Swatch FIVB World Tour as was witnessed in Three tournament wins at Gstaad, Klagenfurt and Mallorca and many mind boggling Beach Volleyball displays saw the team finish in second spot on the overall Swatch FIVB World Tour team rankings. But those close to these magnificent men will tell you that there is one clear goal in their minds for 2004, to be the best. Having developed a thorough understanding of each other s game over their four seasons together as a team, Marcio Araujo and Benjamin often dazzle their opponents with skill and trickery that has to be seen to be believed. They're combination on court is uncanny and they can often get through a match just on the back of the fanatical support from the fans. "The big turning point for us was when we first won a World Tour tournament in Vitória (Brazil ), Marcio Araujo commented. We came from the qualifying rounds and surprised a lot of people. That was the moment that Benjamin and I started to believe that we could really face any team in the world. That was the decisive point and a big step for us. After that, we played six finals in that year." Márcio, who started his career in Volleyball, switched to Beach Volleyball in the early 90's through the help of his coach Ronald and his father Luiz. Benjamin began playing the sport professionally in 1997 and failed to make a significant impact until he developed his partnership with Marcio a couple of years later. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 2nd / Gstaad, SUI 1st / Berlin, GER 5th / Stavanger, NOR 17th / Marseille, FRA 9th / Espinho, POR 4th / Klagenfurt, AUT 1st / Mallorca, ESP 1st / Los Angeles, USA 5th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 3rd

19 17 Name: Christoph Dieckmann Age (birth date): Height: 198 cm Hometown: Köln Name: Andreas "Andy" Scheuerpflug Age (birth date): Height: 196 cm Hometown: Postdam GER Dieckmann Ch. and Scheuerpflug Christoph Dieckmann and Andreas Scheuerpflug have been a revelation since teaming up in At 28-years-old, Dieckmann is enjoying a renaissance to his Beach Volleyball career. Formerly teamed up with his twin brother Markus, Christoph suffered a bad back injury and was forced out of the game for two years. With Scheuerpflug seeking a partner for the remainder of the 2002 season following his split with Oliver Oetke due to a disagreement surrounding objectives, a partnership with the recovered and available Dieckmann seemed the logical choice. In almost two years together, Dieckmann and Scheuerpflug have shot up the rankings to sit just outside the top ten and primed for another fruitful season on the Swatch-FIVB World Tour. As Germany s second team behind Markus and his partner Jonas Reckermann the Olympics are also a big goal. Although they are entering the 2004 Games with differing goals, Scheuerpflug and Dieckmann are focused on giving their all at the world s premier sporting event. For Dieckmann, the challenge of playing in his very first Olympic Games and the experience it will provide is what Athens is all about. Scheuerpflug, on the other hand, will be competing in his second Games after Sydney 2000 and desperately wants to gain a higher finishing position than the 17th he managed with his then playing partner Oetke. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 9th / Berlin, GER 9th / Stavanger, NOR 9th / Marseille, FRA 4th / Klagenfurt, AUT 7th / Mallorca, ESP 5th / Los Angeles, USA 9th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 9th

20 Men s Top Participating Teams Name: Jonas Reckermann Age (birth date): Hometown: Köln Name: Markus Dieckmann Age (birth date): Height: 189 cm Hometown: Köln GER Having Dieckmann M. t w i c e come so and Reckermann close to winning their first Swatch FIVB World Tour gold medal in 2003, Jonas Reckermann and Markus Dieckmann have penciled in 2004 to erase those disappointments and few would argue against the Germans taking top honours at some stage during the season. As if going down to Brazilian pair Benjamin Insfran and Marcio Henrique Araujo in a nailbiting final at the 2003 Swiss Open in Gstaad wasn t a bitter pill to swallow, Reckermann and Dieckmann suffered at the hands of the very same team in the Spanish Open several months later in what has since been described as one of the closest and longest match-ups ever to take place on the Swatch-FIVB World Tour. Yet being the true professionals that they are, the German giants failed to lose faith, and in search for an improved season they went to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro ahead of the 2004 Swatch FIVB World Tour for some intensive training. Reckermann started to play Beach Volleyball some five years ago having previously played Volleyball for almost nine years. His team mate, Markus, first stepped out onto the sand in 1995 and played together with his brother Christoph until he teamed up with Jonas. "We fit together in a perfect way in terms of our character and style of play, Reckermann said. Markus is the more impulsive player on the court, the one with the speedy feet. I am the calmer counterpart and have a good serve." Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 17th / Gstaad, SUI 2nd / Berlin, GER 4th / Marseille, FRA 5th / Espinho, POR 9th / Klagenfurt, AUT 5th / Mallorca, ESP 2nd / Los Angeles, USA 5th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 17th

21 19 Name: Vegard Hoidalen Age (birth date): Height: 193 cm Hometown: Skien Name: Jorre André Kjemperud Age (birth date): Height: 189 cm Hometown: Stavanger NOR Proving that Hoidalen age is no barrier to success, and Kjemperud Norway s Vegard Hoidalen and Jorre André Kjemperud have been battling it out with Beach Volleyball s finest since 1995 and as the years have past so this pair has gone from strength to strength. In fact, the 2003 Swatch FIVB World Tour represented one of the best ever seasons for this team when they finished 8th on the end of year team rankings. Being constantly referred to as one of the oldest and longest serving teams on the Swatch-FIVB World Tour can t be healthy for the respective egos of Hoidalen and Kjemperud, however, the duo enjoy laughing off suggestions that they re past it and take particular delight in tormenting many of their younger foes on court. Hoidalen is one of the most colorful and formidable of competitors on the World Tour. A Beach Volleyball pro since 1995, he stands at an impressive 193cm and although he has been playing Beach since the age of 11 he still puts in a weekly regime of hours of training. His playing partner, Kjemperud is a little more circumspect but equally efficient. Hoidalen and Kjemperud enjoy tremendous support from their army of traveling Norwegian fans, all of whom help to add to the spectacular atmospheres generated at all Swatch-FIVB World Tour events. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 5th / Gstaad, SUI 9th / Berlin, GER 5th / Stavanger, NOR 9th / Marseille, FRA 5th / Espinho, POR 2nd / Klagenfurt, AUT 25th / Lausanne, SUI 4th / Athens, GRE 2nd / Mallorca, ESP 25th / Los Angeles, USA 9th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 9th

22 Men s Top Participating Teams Name: Luis Miguel Barbosa Maia Age (birth date): Height: 180 cm Hometown: Espinho Name: João Carlos Brenha Alves Pereira Age (birth date): Height: 193 cm Hometown: Espinho POR L u i s Maia Miguel Maia and and Brenha João Carlos Brenha are Beach Volleyball legends. Partnering each other since the season, the Portuguese players have twice come so close to fulfilling a life long ambition of gaining a medal at an Olympic Games. Unfortunately they lost out in the bronze medal match at the 1996 Games in Atlanta and again on the Sydney sands in The players share many similarities and complement each other superbly on-court having forged a wonderful relationship through playing over 100 tournaments together since teaming up in Ostend in Belgium was the scene for the pair s first gold medal in 1998, a result both savoured following years of hard work together. The following season saw the Portuguese outfit storming through a field of competitors once again as they notched up gold at the Russian Open in Moscow. They have failed to reach the podium since those glory days in the late 90s, however, with the prospect of another Olympic Games approaching towards the end of this season, Maia and Brenha are certain to start lifting their game on the 2004 SWATCH FIVB World Tour after missing the opening three events due to a hamstring injury to Maia. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 25th / Marseille, FRA 5th / Espinho, POR 9th / Klagenfurt, AUT 9th / Mallorca, ESP 17th / Los Angeles, USA 9th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 4th

23 21 Name: Paul Laciga Age (birth date): Height: 193 cm Hometown: Kerzers (FR) Name: Martin Laciga Age (birth date): Height: 195 cm Hometown: Nidau SUI Composed, Paul and concentrated and able to beat Martin Laciga all comers on the Swatch - FIVB World Tour, the Laciga brothers, Paul and Martin, have been the epitome of consistency over the years. This Swiss combination, who first competed on the World Tour in 1995, are always capable of gold medal success because of their determination to give 100 percent in every event they enter. They are renowned for being one of the most persistent teams on the Swatch-FIVB World Tour and their standing in the world rankings in recent years ( rd, th, nd, nd, th, rd and th ) is evidence of the amount of hard work they have put into the game. It is due, in part, to the great play and exposure of the Lacigas that Beach Volleyball has become so popular in their home country of Switzerland. While other teams openly express themselves, communicate a lot and motivate each other, the Laciga brothers, apart from a few tactical calls, are very quiet on court and concentrate more on their play. They even prefer to take the contemplative approach during timeouts. Throughout the early days of their partnership, there was too much communication and due to several overcharged emotional outbursts, they decided to limit their exchanges in order to avoid a negative scene. Now they restrict their shows of emotion on court where they perform as one of the most flamboyant partnerships on the Tour. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 5th / Gstaad, SUI 5th / Berlin, GER 5th / Stavanger, NOR 5th / Marseille, FRA 2nd / Espinho, POR 5th / Klagenfurt, AUT 17th / Mallorca, ESP 5th / Los Angeles, USA 5th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 5th

24 Men s Top Participating Teams Name: Patrick Heuscher Age (birth date): Height: 193 cm Hometown: Zürich Name: Stefan Kobel Age (birth date): Height: 190 cm Hometown: Duebendorf SUI One of Heuscher the three enormously and Kobel talented and popular Swiss teams on the Swatch-FIVB World Tour, Patrick Heuscher and Stefan Kobel are as focused as ever on picking up as many medals as possible in Two top-three finishes at Gstaad and Klagenfurt in 2003, along with a title win at the Satellite event in Lausanne boosted their confidence and provided each player with the belief they were capable of much more. Both are seen as excellent technicians who learnt their trade in Volleyball. Having switched to Beach in 1997, Heuscher and Kobel decided to combine their efforts as a team in Kobel has managed to utilize his small (in Beach Volleyball terms) 190cm frame in the best possible manner in a sport, which commands the best of athletic endurance. These two men, both in their late 20 s, have developed a partnership, which is blossoming all the time and is shaping up as one of Switzerland s best combinations. Their race for Olympic qualification alongside the Laciga brothers and Sascha Heyer and Markus Egger will be fascinating to say the least. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 17th / Gstaad, SUI 3rd / Berlin, GER 9th / Stavanger, NOR 5th / Marseille, FRA 5th / Klagenfurt, AUT 3rd / Mallorca, ESP 9th / Los Angeles, USA 9th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 5th

25 23 Name: Dain Blanton Age (birth date): Height: 187 cm Hometown: Los Angeles CA Name: Jeff Wayne "Captain" Nygaard Age (birth date): Height: 204 cm Hometown: Los Angeles, CA USA Dain Blanton Blanton has his sights firmly set on the and Nygaard double. Just four years ago at the Olympic Games in Sydney, the American stood with his playing partner Eric Fonoimoana on the winner s podium with a gold medal hanging from his neck. In 2004, partnered by the giant Jeff Nygaard, Blanton is eager to repeat that feat and create history. I want to do something that nobody s ever done, Blanton said. I want to win two Olympic gold medals on the beach. Teammates since 2003, Blanton and Nygaard have gelled well together and have managed to become one of the most consistent presences on the Swatch FIVB World Tour. The pair stormed to victory in the Hellas Open in Greece at the beginning of last season s Swatch-FIVB World Tour and there were immediate predictions of more success to come. Nygaard has made a fantastic transition to the beach game having played Volleyball at national level between 1993 and A veteran of two Olympics, the American stands at an impressive 204cm and is said by many to be one of the finest blockers in the world game. The duo have had little time away from each other since joining forces and their off court as well as on court connection has been crucial in the team s development. If they are to be successful both in reaching the Olympic Games and earning a medal there, the combination of camaraderie and hard work will have all paid off. It can be a challenge if you don t get along well, but me and Jeff s personalities work well together, we enjoy hanging out and we re good friends. Blanton said. That helps your partnership, especially when you re traveling all around the world. But you do end up spending a lot of time with one another, and if you re on the road for four or five weeks at a time it s nice to separate and be apart from each other a little, so you don t wear on one another. But we get along real well. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 1st / Berlin GER 25th / Stavanger, NOR 9th / Marseille, FRA 3rd / Klagenfurt, AUT 4th / Los Angeles, USA 9th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 5th

26 Women s Top Participating Teams

27 25

28 Women s Top Participating Teams Name: Natalie Cook Age (birth date): Height: 181 cm Hometown: Brisbane (Queensland) Name: Nicole Sanderson Age (birth date): Height: 183 cm Hometown: Mount Gravatt AUS Following Cook the retirement of and Sanderson S y d n e y Olympic gold medalist Kerri- Ann Pottharst at the start of 2003 her former partner Natalie Cook paired up with Nicole Sanderson with one thing in mind to repeat her gold-medal winning performance in Athens in All the pressure was on Sanderson having stepped into the gold-plated shoes of Pottharst but she came through the season with all her colours intact as the two Australians completed an impressive debut season together finishing fourth on the 2003 Swatch-FIVB World Tour rankings. Cook and Pottharst had been pioneers of women's Beach Volleyball, winning bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics before going two-places better at Sydney four years later. They also finished third on the 2002 World Tour rankings before Pottharst, at 37, announced her retirement in March. The change in partnership marked a significant step in the six-year international beach career of Sanderson, whose best finish on the World Tour had been fifth (three times). Meanwhile Cook, a Beach Volleyball professional, had first played on the World Tour in the season and had amassed 92 tournament appearances prior to But Cook and Sanderson still gelled superbly and look to be timing their run perfectly for the Athens Olympics. After a season of foundation building and developing on court communication, the two Antipodeans are now impressing as Australia s number one pair. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 9th / Gstaad, SUI 9th / Berlin, GER 9th / Stavanger, NOR 5th / Marseille, FRA 4th / Klagenfurt, AUT 9th / Osaka, JPN 3rd / Milan, ITA 17th / Los Angeles, USA 3rd / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 3rd

29 27 Name: Ana Paula Connelly Age (birth date): Height: 183 cm Hometown: Leblon Name: Sandra Pires Tavares Age (birth date): Height: 174 cm Hometown: Rio de Janeiro Although both Ana Paula Connelly and Sandra Tavares Pires Nascimento have been playing Beach Volleyball for over three years the star duo only came together as a team at the beginning of 2003 and were an instant success. Four gold medals, four silver and two other top 10 finishes saw the Brazilian duo claim the Golden Sands Top Team Trophy for finishing the season BRA Ana Paula and Sandra Pires as the top-ranked team on the 2003 Swatch-FIVB World Tour. Ana Paula and double world champion Sandra Pires are both former Volleyball players, with the former having been a three time World Grand Prix champion in 1994, 96 and 98, a bronze medalist at the Atlanta Olympic Games and a recipient of the best player award at the 1994 World Cup. Sandra Pires, meanwhile, has become a Beach Volleyball legend winning gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and becoming the first women to carry the Brazilian flag at Sydney 2000 where she claimed the bronze medal with partner Adriana Samuel. Despite their different backgrounds the two Brazilians have gelled into a superb combination with the outstanding skills at the net from Ana Paula, superbly matched by Sandra Pires back court urgency. We had been trying to play together since 2000, Ana Paula said. Our idea was always to be together; therefore we find that we form a good team. Some people have kindly said we are an ideal pair, but I do not think that two good players necessarily make the best team". Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 1st / Gstaad, SUI 2nd / Berlin, GER 1st / Stavanger, NOR 1st / Marseille, FRA 2nd / Klagenfurt, AUT 2nd / Osaka, JPN 1st / Milan, ITA 9th / Los Angeles, USA 2nd / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 5th

30 Women s Top Participating Teams Name: Adriana Brandão Behar Age (birth date): Height: 180 cm Hometown: Rio de Janeiro Name: Shelda Kelly Bruno Bede Age (birth date): Height: 165 cm Hometown: Rio de Janeiro BRA It has been Adriana Behar one of the longest and and Shelda most productive partnerships in international Beach Volleyball but heading into 2004 Adriana Brandão Behar and Shelda Kelly Bruno Bede have experienced some frustrating times recently. The two Brazilian stars, who paired up in , are two-time reigning world champions, 2000 Olympic Games silver medalists and FIVB World Tour champions for five consecutive years (from ) but in 2003, injury and bad luck saw them complete the season without a tournament title to their name. Few other teams can match them for the consistency and longevity they have shown since joining the World Tour with 29 World Tour victories over eight years. They have more than 700 victories and 93 titles in a partnership spanning seven years including two World Championship titles in 2001 and Adriana is recognized as one of the biggest players in Beach in Brazil while Shelda s nickname of the cat is a reflection of her feline tendencies cleaning up in the back court. And despite last year s disappointing results the two Rio de Janeiro stars, who finished third on the 2003 Swatch-FIVB World Tour rankings, are still expected to threaten again in 2004 and be one of the main contenders for gold at Athens. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 2nd / Gstaad, SUI 3rd / Berlin, GER 3rd / Stavanger, NOR 3rd / Marseille, FRA 3rd / Klagenfurt, AUT 3rd / Osaka, JPN 2nd / Milan, ITA 2nd / Los Angeles, USA 9th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 2nd

31 29 Name: Fei Wang Age (birth date): Hometown: Beijing Name: Jia Tian Age (birth date) Height: 177 cm Hometown: Beijing CHN With years Tian Jia definitely on their side and Wang Fei Wang Fei and Tian Jia are currently one of the sensations of the Swatch-FIVB World Tour as China s leading team, recording impressive results in the process of playing innovative and entertaining Beach Volleyball. The year 2003 was a ground breaking season for the two Beijingnese, winning their first World Tour crown in Indonesia before making it back-to-back titles with gold two weeks later in Italy. Their success augers well for the 2008 Olympics, which will be on their home turf, at which time they will be only 27 with more than 10 years experience. Tall and agile Wang Fei plays an integral part, dominating at the net while Tian Jia s play in the back court has rivaled that of some of the best on the circuit. Definitely a team of the future, Wang Fei and Tian Jia should never be taken lightly, especially during the Athens Games in August where they are expected to cause many an upset on their way to a top 10 finish. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 17th / Gstaad, SUI 9th / Berlin, GER 17th / Stavanger, NOR 5th / Marseille, FRA 5th / Klagenfurt, AUT 17th / Osaka, JPN 9th / Lianyungang, CHN 5th / Bali, INA 2nd / Milan, ITA 1st / Los Angeles, USA 4th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 17th

32 Women s Top Participating Teams Name: Tamara Larrea Peraza Age (birth date): Height: 183 cm Hometown: Ciudad Habana Name: Dalixia Fernandez Grasset Age (birth date): Height: 176 cm Hometown: Couantanaho CUB Larrea Peraza and Enchanting the crowds Fernandez Grasset with their easy style and good humoured on-court antics, Cuba s Tamara Larrea Peraza and Dalixia Fernandez Grasset are hunting for some solid results on the 2004 Swatch- FIVB World Tour. Indeed, having picked up three top five finishes last season, these Cubans are capable of beating anyone on their day. Brought up in Couantanaho, Cuba, Fernandez Grasset has developed into an extremely accomplished Beach player. Although she took up the sport in 2000 with her current teammate, Fernandez Grasset also played alongside Yoselin Roque Palacios starting in 2001 through to Larrea Peraza is the elder of the duo and her on-court experience is a vital asset to the team s success. She has been playing Beach since 1998, partnering Maria Eugenia Quevedo before combining her talents with Fernandez Grasset in The 2003 Swatch FIVB World Tour season witnessed the Cubans earning their highest ever finish in an event when they played some sensational Beach Volleyball and picked up a silver medal at the Bali Open in Indonesia. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 4th / Gstaad, SUI 9th / Berlin, GER 17th / Stavanger, NOR 5th / Marseille, FRA 25th / Lianyungang, CHN 9th / Bali, INA 2nd / Milan, ITA 9th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 17th

33 31 Name: Sona Novakova Dosoudilova Age (birth date): Height: 186 cm Hometown: Brno Name: Eva Celbova Age (birth date): Height: 186 cm Hometown: Olomouc CZE Together as a Celbova and team since 1996, Sona Novakova Novakova and Eva Celbova have become household names on the Swatch FIVB World Tour. Their superb teamwork and uncanny understanding of each other s game helped them achieve a podium finish at the 2003 Indonesian Open tournament in Bali. Expect this pair to dig deep in order to maintain their top 10 presence in Relatively similar in height, Novakova and Celbova complement each other well on court, mixing up their game when it is needed. Both are superb readers of play and can frustrate any opponent regardless of ability. Adding to their season high third-place finish in Bali, the Czechs also managed three fifths (Gstaad, Marseille and Klagenfurt) and a ninth place finish at the World Championships in Rio, all of which assisted in the duo reaching eighth position on the final 2003 Swatch-FIVB World Tour rankings. Both girls are sports mad and work hard throughout the season to maintain peak physical condition. When it s time to wind down though, Sona Novakova and Eva Celbova are in complete agreement that there is nothing better than relaxing in front of a good movie! Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 7th / Gstaad, SUI 5th / Berlin, GER 9th / Stavanger, NOR 9th / Marseille, FRA 5th / Klagenfurt, AUT 5th / Bali, INA 3rd / Milan, ITA 17th / Los Angeles, USA 7th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 9th

34 Women s Top Participating Teams Name: Stephanie Pohl Age (birth date): Height: 186 cm Hometown: Kiel Name: Okka Rau Age (birth date): Height: 180 cm Hometown: Kiel GER Together Pohl for their fourth season now, 2003 and Rau European champions Stephanie Pohl and Okka Rau are eager to collect as many points as they can on the 2004 Swatch FIVB World Tour order to improve on their 10th place finish in the 2003 official world rankings table. A stable presence on last season s Tour, this powerful pair reached a couple of quarterfinals, (in Germany and France) while managing to make the round of 16 three times (in Japan, Italy and at the World Championships in Brazil). The highlight for team Pohl-Rau, however, was their spectacular triumph at the European Championships in Turkey. We didn't believe that we could win, a delighted Rau said after the final in which they beat their compatriots Andrea Ahmann and Jana Vollmer 21-19, The season was very tough and we had some injury problems but at the European Championships, everything went well. It was simply a perfect tournament for us. Both skiing enthusiasts, Pohl and Rau, an FIVB women s athlete advisor, play with an abundance of energy and they never allow their opponents to settle. They have been learning and growing as a team since the 2001 season and are always a promising outside prospect going into every Swatch-FIVB World Tour event. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 25th / Gstaad, SUI 17th / Berlin, GER 5th / Stavanger, NOR 25th / Marseille, FRA 5th / Klagenfurt, AUT 17th / Osaka, JPN 9th / Lianyungang, CHN 9th / Milan, ITA 9th / Los Angeles, USA 5th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 9th

35 33 Name: Vassiliki "Vasso" Karadassiou Age (birth date): Height: 182 cm Hometown: Athens Name: Efrosyni "Efi" Sfyri Age (birth date): Height: 180 cm Hometown: Athens GRE Greece s Efi Sfyri and Syfri and Vasso Karadassiou Karadassiou have been Beach Volleyball partners since teaming up in The 2004 Athens Summer Games represents their second appearance at the Olympics and being one of the home teams, the pressure will be on to finish higher than the 17th place they managed at Sydney four years ago. Both players initially took to the Beach Volleyball courts with different teammates at the 1994 Panhellenic Championships. In fact, it wasn t until the middle of that 94 season that Syfri and Karadassiou decided to forge their now famous partnership. Karadassiou, an Athens Philosophy School graduate, was born in the Greek capital in 1973 but made her home in Roska, a small mountain village in the province of Evrytania while her playing partner, Sfyri, hails from Piraeus. Both players are Volleyball converts having enjoyed success at junior and senior level for the Greek national side. Indeed Sfyri and Karadassiou continued to compete at both Volleyball and Beach Volleyball disciplines until 1998 when a decision was taken to concentrate solely on Beach and qualification for the 2000 Olympics Since joining forces on the sand, Sfyri-Karadassiou have merged into the most successful Greek Beach Volleyball side ever. Dozens of domestic titles combined with admirable performances on the FIVB World Tour have raised the profile of this team which has an outside chance of being among the medals at the 2004 Olympic Games. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 5th / Gstaad, SUI 25th / Berlin, GER 25th / Stavanger, Norway, NOR 17th / Marseille, FRA 25th / Klagenfurt, Austria, AUT 5th / Osaka, JPN 5th / Lianyungang, CHN 5th / Milan ITA 25th

36 Women s Top Participating Teams Name: Rebekka Kadijk Age (birth date): Height: 175 cm Hometown: Rotterdam Name: Marrit Leenstra Age (birth date): Hometown: Amsterdam NED Any team Kadijk that goes all the way and Leenstra in a Swatch- FIVB World Tour event deserves the utmost of respect and that s just what Dutch duo Rebekka Kadijk and Marrit Leenstra have been receiving from opponents and fans alike since they surprised all concerned by claiming gold at the 2003 Chinese Open in Lianyungang. As the rain continued to dampen the tournament sands following the Netherlands win, a rain soaked and delighted Kadijk enthused: "I've never heard the Dutch national anthem being played for us before so that was a special moment, especially for my mum as it has always been her dream," she said. The Dutch girls main asset is their versatility. Where most teams have a tall player dominating at the net while their smaller, more agile teammate takes care of the backcourt, Kadijk and Leenstra differ. They are both of a similar stature and build and both equally proficient on the spike or the dig. While Kadijk has plenty of World Tour experience, making her debut in 1997 playing with Debora Schoon Kadijk, Leenstra, an FIVB Women s Athletes Representative, has only been on the Swatch-FIVB World Tour since teaming up with Kadijk. Their record since 2001 has been improving year on year up to that first Swatch- FIVB World Tour triumph last season and the prospects of even better things to come in 2004 look very good. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 9th / Gstaad, SUI 5th / Berlin, GER 5th / Stavanger, NOR 9th / Marseille, FRA 9th / Klagenfurt, AUT 17th / Osaka, JPN 17th / Lianyungang, CHN 1st / Milan, ITA 4th / Los Angeles, USA 17th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 17th

37 35 Name: Nicole Schnyder-Benoit Age (birth date): Height: 176 cm Hometown: La Neuveuille Name: Simone Kuhn Age (birth date): Height: 183 cm Hometown: Lurern SUI N i c o l e Schnyder-Benoit Schnyder- Benoît and and Kuhn Simone Kuhn have been a solid combination on the Swatch-FIVB World Tour since they formed a partnership in Heading into their first Olympic Games, the Swiss Beach Volleyballers are renowned for their skills in tackling the elements and should the wind pick up around court, expect wry smiles on the faces of these talented ladies. Although their overall results aren t earth shattering they have shown some superb qualities through the years which have helped the duo leap up the Swatch-FIVB World Tour rankings. They have competed in two World Championships, but it was the most recent in 2003 in Rio de Janeiro that the pair stood out when they managed to reach the quarterfinals. Schnyder-Benoît and Kuhn have grown into a combination where their different styles compliment a quick and agile game plan. The strong, fast 176cm tall Benoit is the older of the two at 31 and is a stickler for absolute preparation. Kuhn, at 183cm, is responsible for the block and despite her young years, she has plenty of experience having started playing Volleyball at 16 when she represented the Swiss national team. Problems with the Swiss Volleyball team meant Kuhn was forced into a career rethink and she opted to try her hand at Beach. It was frustrating to put oneself through so much work in Volleyball and then never fulfill your ambition, she said. There are only two people who are after the same goal (in Beach Volleyball), so that is much more motivating. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 25th / Gstaad, SUI 9th / Berlin, GER 9th / Stavanger, NOR 17th / Marseille, FRA 17th / Klagenfurt, AUT 25th / Osaka, JPN 5th / Lianyungang, CHN 4th / Milan, ITA 5th / Los Angeles, USA 9th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 5th

38 Women s Top Participating Teams Name: Kerri Walsh Age (birth date): Height: 192 cm Hometown: Saratoga Name: Misty May Age (birth date): Height: 182 cm Hometown: Long Beach-CA USA Despite Walsh having only teamed and May up in 2001 Kerri Walsh and Misty May have developed into one of the most potent pairs on the Swatch-FIVB World Tour, claiming 11 World Tour titles from only 28 starts over two years. After winning the World Tour teams title in 2002, the two Americans finished second behind Brazil s Ana Paula Connelly and Sandra Tavares Pires Nascimento in the World Tour rankings in 2003 but will be one of the favourites for the title and Olympic honours this year. While May had started playing on the World Tour in 2000 with Holly McPeak, Walsh was completing the last of two seasons as an outside hitter for the United States National Volleyball team, including a visit to the Sydney Olympics, helping them to finish fourth. May also started in Volleyball, leading her State team to victory over Walsh s side in 1999, but while both come from a strong Volleyball ground it is Beach where they have really made their mark, with Walsh s strong game at the net giving May plenty of time to control the back court. Team results 2003: Rhodes, GRE 3rd / Gstaad, SUI 1st / Berlin, GER 4th / Stavanger, NOR 2nd / Marseille, FRA 1st / Klagenfurt, AUT 1st / Los Angeles, USA 1st / Rio de Janeiro, BRA 1st

39 37 Name: Holly McPeak Age (birth date): Height: 170 cm Hometown: Manhattan Beach CA Name: Elaine Youngs Age (birth date): Height: 183 cm Hometown: Durango COLORADO USA Following a McPeak formidable 2002 Beach and Youngs Volleyball season in which they amassed a jaw dropping win-loss ratio of 82-6 on the international and American domestic circuits, things seemed to have somewhat tailored off for Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs. It was always going to be a difficult task defending three titles, however, appearing in just one final in 2003 will have irked this pair to such an extent that they will want to remind the skeptics of just how good they can be on the 2004 Swatch FIVB World Tour. About a month before that aforementioned 2002 season began, Youngs gave McPeak a call about a possible partnership as she was concerned that her then partner's (Barbra Fontana) back injury might prevent her from playing a full term. Although they did not know each other very well and considered themselves friendly rivals, the offer was one McPeak did not decline. An unquenched desire to keep improving through hard work on and off the court cannot be good news for the duo's opponents. "I break down my game every off season and I m not afraid to change," said the former U.S. national Volleyballer Youngs. While her partner McPeak noted, "I'm in the gym every day, I can't think of one part of my game that I don't need to improve on. That's what drives me." "She's great to play with and a super-talented athlete," said McPeak of her partner. She loves to win. There are a lot of great athletes out there, but her will to win makes her better than the rest. She is also a great setter and just makes playing my game easier". Team results 2003: Gstaad, SUI 9th / Berlin, GER 2nd / Stavanger, NOR 4th / Marseille, FRA 9th / Klagenfurt, AUT 4th / Los Angeles, USA 9th / Rio de Janeiro, BRA - 5th

40 Men s World Rankings 2003 (15 tournaments) 1 Ricardo Santos- Emanuel Rego BRA (Gold IIII, Bronze I) 2 Marcio Araujo-Benjamin Insfran BRA (Gold III, Silver I, Bronze I) 3 Martin Laciga-Paul Laciga SUI (Silver I) 2002 (12 tournaments) 1 Martin Conde-Mariano Baracetti ARG (Gold II, Silver I) 2 Marcio Araujo-Benjamin Insfran BRA (Gold I, Silver III) 3 Jose Loiola-Ricardo Santos BRA (Gold III, Silver I, Bronze I) 2001 (18 tournaments) 1 Emanuel Rego-Tande Ramos BRA (Gold IIII, Silver I, Bronze IIII) 2 Martin Laciga-Paul Laciga SUI (Silver IIII, Bronze II) 3 Martin Conde-Mariano Baracetti ARG (Gold III, Silver II, Bronze I) 2000 (18 tournaments) 1 Ze Marco de Melo-Ricardo Santos BRA (Gold IIII, Silver IIII) 2 Martin Laciga-Paul Laciga SUI (Gold I, Silver II, Bronze III) 3 Jose Loiola-Emanuel Rego BRA (Gold IIII, Silver I, Bronze III) 1999 (17 tournaments) 1 Jose Loiola-Emanuel Rego BRA (Gold IIII II, Silver II, Bronze I) 2 Ze Marco de Melo-Ricardo Santos BRA (Gold IIII, Silver III, Bronze III) 3 Guilherme Marques-Rogerio Para BRA (Silver IIII, Bronze III) 1998 (18 tournaments) 1 Guilherme Marques-Rogerio Para BRA (Gold IIII, Silver I, Bronze II) 2 Jose Loiola-Emanuel Rego BRA (Gold IIII, Silver II, Bronze II) 3 Martin Laciga-Paul Laciga SUI (Gold I, Silver I) 1997 (12 tournaments) 1 Emanuel Rego-Ze Marco de Melo BRA (Gold IIII, Silver II, Bronze II) 2 Guilherme Marques-Rogerio Para BRA (Gold II, Silver II) 3 Paulao Moreira-Paulo Emilio Silva BRA (Gold I, Bronze III) 1996 (17 Tournaments) 1 Emanuel Rego-Ze Marco de Melo BRA (Gold IIII, Silver, Bronze III) 2 Jan Kvalheim-Bjorn Maaseide NOR (Gold I, Bronze III) 3 Guilherme Marques-Rogerio Para BRA (Gold I, Silver IIII) 1995 (18 Tournaments) 1 Franco Neto-Roberto Lopes BRA (Gold IIII III, Silver II, Bronze II) 2 Emanuel Rego-Ze Marco de Melo BRA (Gold IIII, Silver IIII, Bronze III) 3 Jan Kvalheim-Bjorn Maaseide NOR (Gold I, Silver I, Bronze II) Note: Includes World Championships, World Tour, Olympic Games and Challenger and Satellite events

41 Women s World Rankings (13 tournaments) 1 Ana Paula Connelly -Sandra Pires BRA (Gold IIII, Silver IIII) 2 Misty May-Kerri Walsh USA (Gold IIII, Silver I, Bronze I) 3 Shelda Bede-Adriana Behar BRA (Silver IIII, Bronze IIII) 2002 (11 tournaments) 1 Misty May-Kerri Walsh USA (Gold IIII, Silver III, Bronze I) 2 Shelda Bede-Adriana Behar BRA (Gold II, Silver III, Bronze I) 3 Kerri-Ann Pottharst-Natalie Cook AUS (Silver II, Bronze IIII) 2001 (14 tournaments) 1 Shelda Bede-Adriana Behar BRA (Gold IIII II, Silver IIII, Bronze I) 2 Sandra Pires-Tatiana Minello BRA (Gold I, Silver II, Bronze I) 3 Elaine Youngs-Barbra Fontana USA (Gold II, Silver II, Bronze III) 2000 (14 tournaments) 1 Shelda Bede-Adriana Behar BRA (Gold IIII, Silver III, Bronze I) 2 Holly McPeak-Misty May USA (Gold III, Silver IIII) 3 Annett Davis-Jenny Johnson Jordan USA (Gold I, Silver II, Bronze I) 1999 (11 tournaments) 1 Shelda Bede-Adriana Behar BRA (Gold IIII I, Silver I) 2 Annett Davis-Jenny Johnson Jordan USA (Gold I, Silver II, Bronze I) 3 Sandra Pires-Adriana Samuel BRA (Bronze I) 1998 (10 tournaments) 1 Shelda Bede-Adriana Behar BRA (Gold IIII I, Silver II) 2 Sandra Pires-Adriana Samuel BRA (Gold II, Silver II, Bronze II) 3 Holly McPeak-Lisa Arce USA (Gold I, Bronze III) 1997 (9 tournaments) 1 Shelda Bede-Adriana Behar BRA (Gold II, Silver III, Bronze II) 2 Adriana Samuel-Monica Rodrigues BRA (Gold III, Silver I, Bronze I) 3 Holly McPeak-Lisa Arce USA (Gold II, Silver IIII, Bronze I) 1996 (12 tournaments) 1 Sandra Pires-Jackie Silva BRA (Gold IIII I, Silver II, Bronze I) 2 Shelda Bede-Adriana Behar BRA (Gold II, Bronze IIII) 3 Adriana Samuel-Monica Rodrigues BRA (Gold I, Silver IIII, Bronze I) 1995 (11 tournaments) 1 Sandra Pires-Jackie Silva BRA (Gold II, Silver IIII, Bronze IIII) 2 Nancy Reno-Holly McPeak USA (Gold IIII I, Bronze I) 3 Kerri-Ann Pottharst-Natalie Cook AUS (Silver) Note: Includes World Championships, World Tour, Olympic Games and Challenger and Satellite events

42 Countdown to the Athens Olympics The greatest sporting event of our era will take place in Athens, Greece when the Olympic Games begin on August 13th. The Beach Volleyball competition will run from August with the top 24 teams from both genders doing battle in a pool play format followed by single elimination, a similar system to which had been used on the Swatch-FIVB World Tour in 2002 and Swatch-FIVB World Tour events organized before July 13, 2004 will be part of the Olympic qualification process, which started in January, The best eight results of each pair based on World Ranking points including the results of the recognized Continental finals will be used to determine the best 24 teams per gender (with a maximum of two teams per country) to take part in the Beach Volleyball competition at the Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre, which holds 10,000 people. All continents will be granted a vacancy if not already qualified and teams from more than 60 countries will take part in the qualifying process. Improvements on Sydney 2000, itself a memorable Beach Volleyball success, include all matches being played on centre court where teams will play a minimum of three matches and night sessions, which will be scheduled for each day of the 12-day competition. Other initiatives include two giant video walls providing live feeds, alternate men's and women's matches as opposed to single-gender sessions, the addition of two Beach Volleyball courts open to the public, and an area for sponsor's stands, which will border the eight training courts. The FIVB and ATHOC are also pleased to implement entertainment to create a top Beach Volleyball atmosphere.

43 Olympic Beach Volleyball numbers 41 Capacity of the Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre: 10,000 seats, (4,300 permanent, 800 under cover) Number of courts: 11 (8 training courts, 1 main arena and 2 courts for spectators) Total number of teams: Total number of athletes: Total number of matches: 24 men and 24 women. 48 men and 48 women. 104, comprising of 52 men's and 52 women's matches. Travel time from Olympic Village: 35 minutes in special motorway lane. Weather in August: Mean daily max/min temperature: C / C Burn time: Between 11:00-17: Atlanta Olympics: 24 men s teams and 18 women s teams competing on Atlanta beach in a 10,000-seat stadium. More than 107,000 spectators took in the six-day competition. Some 600 athletes representing 42 countries took part in the Olympic qualifying process. Women: Gold: Jackie Silva and Sandra Pires (Brazil) Silver: Mônica Rodrigues and Adriana Samuel (Brazil) Bronze: Natalie Cook and Kerri-Ann Pottharst (Australia) 2000 Sydney Olympics: The top 24 men s and 24 women s teams competing in a 10-day event on Bondi Beach in a stadium holding 10,000 fans. A total of 180,000 spectators attended the event. Medalists Men: Gold: Dain Blanton and Eric Fonoimoana (USA) Silver: Zé Marco and Ricardo Costa (Brazil) Bronze: Jörg Ahmann and Axel Hager (Germany) Women: Gold: Natalie Cook and Kerri-Ann Pottharst (Australia) Silver: Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede (Brazil) Bronze: Sandra Pires and Adriana Samuel (Brazil) Men: Gold: Medalists: Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes (USA) as Kiraly becomes a three-time gold medalist and the first indoor and outdoor Olympic champion in Volleyball. Silver: Mike Dodd and Mike Whitmarsh (USA) Bronze: John Child and Mark Heese (Canada)

44 Rules for you Beach Volleyball is best known for its tension, excitement and drama and the rules are remarkably simple, making the game universally popular also as a recreational sport. Two teams of two players must score points by placing the ball over (without touching) the net and into the opponent s court that s it - the recipe for some of the best fun you can have on the beach. Other rules include; the ball can touch any part of the body, each team has three alternate hits between the two players to return the ball and one cannot catch or throw the ball. Here are a couple of extra pointers just to help you enjoy the game even more. The match is won by the team that wins two sets. A set is won by the team that first scores 21 points first with a minimum margin of two (except in the deciding 3rd set). In the case of a tie, play is continued until a twopoint lead is reached. In the case of a 1-1 tie, the deciding set is played to 15 points (not the usual 21) with a minimum lead of two points. A team winning a rally scores a point The Rally Point System The serving player must be alternated every time this occurs. There are NO determined positions on the court. Two players can touch the ball at the same time but when two team mates do, it counts as two hits (except if blocking). If there is a held ball by two opponents over the net it is NOT considered a fault. A player may enter the opponent s court provided they don t interfere with the opponent s play. The game continues if a ball served by a player touches the net. So the next time you head to one of the glamour spots on the international calendar to take in the fun and passion of Beach Volleyball remember; it s a simple game. Why not grab a ball and try it yourself! Court Layout

45 Referees Hand Signals AUTHORISATION TO SERVE Move the hand to indicate the direction of service. 2- COURT SWITCHES Raise the forearms front and back and twist them around the body. 3- TIME-OUT Place the palm of one hand over the fingers of the other, held vertically (forming a T). 4- MISCONDUCT WARNING Show a yellow card for warning. Show a red card for penalty. Red / Yellow: expulsion / disqualification. 5- SCREENING Raise both arms vertically, palms forward. 6- BALL "OUT" Raise the forearms vertically, hands open, palms towards the body. 7- BALL TOUCHED Brush with the palm of one hand the fingers of the other, held vertically. 8- BALL "IN" Point the fingers towards the court. 9- HELD BALL Slowly lift the forearm, palm of the hand facing upwards. 10- DOUBLE CONTACT Raise two fingers, spread open. 11- FOUR HITS Raise four fingers, spread open. 12- NET TOUCHED BY A PLAYER Touch the top of the net or its side, accord ing to the fault. 13- REACHING BEYOND THE NET Place a hand above the net, palm facing down wards. 14- ATTACK-HIT FAULT Make a downward motion with the forearm, hand open. 15- INTERFERENCE BY PENETRATION INTO THE OPPONENT'S COURT Point to the center court. 16- DOUBLE FAULT AND REPLAY Raise both thumbs vertically.

46 FIVB TV Exposure and Property Television Properties Beach Volleyball Beach Volleyball = new markets and opportunities 2004 Swatch-FIVB World Tour = 7-month calendar 5 continents 25 tournaments (14 men and 11 women) Over USD $5,000,000 in prize money The best Beach Volleyball players in the world On-site spectators = 500,000+ Cumulative potential TV audience = over 1 billion 2003 Swatch-FIVB World Tour Overview Footage distributed to 205 territories worldwide; More than 510 hours of television coverage 700 minutes and 425 excerpts of news material; Primary distribution targeted to a potential audience of million people; Exposure of events reached through International Distribution Live, Live Delayed & Highlights. An annual global series of events that is staged in famous locations starring athletes from over 60 countries who compete for Olympic qualification, prize money and world ranking. World Championships present by Swatch Staged every two years, the World Championships feature the brightest stars of the Swatch-FIVB World Tour. Next one to be held in Germany, Volleyball World Championships Staged every four years, the World Championships are the most important of all Volleyball competitions as they incorporate a global qualification process that climaxes with a grand finale of the best 24 teams in each gender. World League Created by the FIVB in 1990, the World League is an annual showcase for the sport. Live television audiences join spectators on site to watch the best men's national Volleyball teams competing for prize money amounting to US$13,000,000. This year s Final Round will be held in Italy in July. World Cups The road to the Olympic Games commenced with the World Cups in November 2003, an event that showcases the very best 12 men's and women's teams in the world from each continent. World Grand Prix The annual competition for women continues to break new ground for women's sport. This year the Preliminary Round will be held in Asia with the Final Round in Italy in July.

47 Ecoflag 45 Since joining forces in 2003, the FIVB and the Global Sports Alliance (GSA) have been flying the flag for environmental awareness through sport across the beaches of the world. At every event on the Swatch FIVB World Tour in 2004 the GVA s Ecoflag will be seen fluttering in the breeze reminding people of the importance of a healthy and clean environment. The GSA is an organization that is fully committed to raising environmental awareness through sport and they already have agreements of cooperation with the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations Environmental program (UNEP). The Ecoflag program encourages people to enjoy healthy outdoor sports through avenues such as Beach Volleyball and promotes activities that incorporate avoiding waste, conserving power, sharing transport, recycling etc. The Ecoflag symbolizes the commitment to the environment of sports enthusiasts and everyone who knows the importance and irreplaceable nature of the water, air and greenery that surrounds us. in a special ceremony in Japan in 2003 for the outstanding work of the FIVB in raising environmental awareness among players, spectators and sponsors during Volleyball and Beach Volleyball World Tour in recent years. "Our sport has a social responsibility to contribute to protecting the world's most valuable commodity, the environment, Dr Acosta said. The FIVB has the vision that sport can make a significant contribution to the development of individuals and nations by taking sustainable actions in favour of the environment and passing on simple but meaningful social messages to the youth of our 218 affiliated countries and territories". Their link with UNEP allows the FIVB to extend its policy of working with the United Nations agencies to help promote the UN Secretary- General s program of Sport for Peace and Development. FIVB President Dr. Rubén Acosta received a unique one-off award, the Prince Takamado Memorial Prize for environmental excellence,

48 FAQ S Do men and women receive equal prize money? Yes Is it true women must play in bikinis? They don t. Women have the option of playing in a one or two piece playing uniform in all FIVB events. Is the net and court the same size for Beach Volleyball as in Volleyball? Yes, 2.43m for men and 2.24m for women. Why isn t mixed Beach Volleyball played? Firstly the net is at a different height for men and women and secondly, the speed of which the game is played differs between the two sexes, however the FIVB does not exclude the possibility of mixed Beach Volleyball being played to enjoy the sport. Is Beach Volleyball always played on beaches? No. You will see some venues located in the middle of town squares, amongst the mountains, ports and holiday resorts while the FIVB allows some national and continental tours to be played indoors. Do Beach Volleyball teams have captains? Yes. Usually indicated on the score sheet and the captain is responsible for the coin toss among other things. Is a ball on the line in or out? In Is the ball the same as Volleyball? No, it is heavier and bigger in order to be slower for greater control. When was Beach Volleyball introduced to the Olympic Games programme? In its debut at the Olympics Beach Volleyball was a sold out event at the 1996 Atlanta Games Are players professional or amateur? Top world ranked players are professional Who are the legends of Beach Volleyball? Men: Sinjin Smith, Randy Stoklos, Karch Kiraly, Gene Selznick, Loiola, Emanuel Women: Jackie Silva, Kerri-Ann Pottharst, Karolyn Kirby, Natalie Cook, Sandra Pires What do the signals mean in Beach Volleyball? Signals are meant to coordinate a strategy between players. One index finger behind the back means the blocker will take the line parallel to the outside of the court while the player at the back covers the diagonal angle. Two index fingers means the blocker takes the diagonal while the player at the back covers the shot down the line.

49 Growth Plan 47 The Growth Plan Grow the interest and commercial value of Beach Volleyball at all levels to boost the number of events, prize money (US$ 10,000,000 per season) and strengthen the brand of the sport. Generate additional opportunities for more athletes to become professional and globally recognized. Develop throughout the affiliated national Volleyball Federations, professional national tours and national team programs. Set-up a calendar over eight or nine months in five continents with five or six Grand Slam events, 40 Men s and Women s Open tournaments and 40 other types of events. Increase the TV distribution, promotion, and media coverage worldwide. Continue to work closely with the IOC and OCOG to organize successful Beach Volleyball tournaments at the Olympic Games Improve the World Championships, Grand Slam, and Open concepts while jointly supporting all other events to build up the new generation of players (Challenger, Satellite, World Gala, Junior World Championships, Continental Championships, National Tours, and Exhibitions). Set up Beach Volleyball courts on the most beautiful beaches, in the most famous cities, and in the most glamorous inland multi-sports resorts Continue to work closely with the IOC and OCOG to organize successful Beach Volleyball tournaments at the Olympic Games. Preserve the integrity of the sport and keep it as drug-free for the benefit of future generations. Maintain Beach Volleyball as a unique educational and developmental tool for today s youth Continue to involve Beach Volleyball in most international multi-sports events to establish it as the most popular summer sport ever. Maintain and enlarge the successful sponsorship programs of the FIVB properties to both enhance the awareness of Beach Volleyball and sponsors exposure nationally and internationally. Provide promoters with the expertise of the finest FIVB Officials and guarantee the communication of all relevant information to the parties concerned.

50 FIVB Contacts Details FIVB Av. de la Gare Lausanne Switzerland Phone: Fax : FIVB President Dr Rubén Acosta FIVB General Manager Mr. Jean-Pierre Seppey general.management@fivb.org FIVB Beach Volleyball Coordinator Mr. Angelo Squeo beach@fivb.org FIVB Press Delegate Mr. Paul Bryan paulbryan@online.ie FIVB Press and Communications press@fivb.org

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