Vallarta-Nayarit to Host U17 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship FIVB
go to original February 22, 2014

Implementing another solid element of its overall plan for growth and development of the sport worldwide, the new FIVB administration announced a fourth age-group world championship in 2014 for the U17 age-group. From July 15 to 20, Mexico’s Bahia de Banderas will be the site of the inaugural FIVB Beach Volleyball U17 World Championships.

“We are delighted to be able to organise a World Championships for the U17 age-group,” FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça F° said. “We want to give as many young players the chance to experience international competition because it is vital to their development as beach volleyball players.”

“It also means another country can have the opportunity to organise an FIVB international tournament and learn and understand what is required to host a FIVB age-group World Championships and how the hosting federation can use the tournament to increase the popularity of the sport in their country and region.”

As part of the initiatives of the new leadership of the FIVB, the inaugural FIVB Beach Volleyball U23 World Championships were held in Myslowice, Poland in 2013 and this year’s event will return to the same city in Southeast Poland for the second FIVB U23 World Championships from June 10 to 15.

The two long-standing age-group world championships U21 and U19 will be held in cities that have hosted other age-group events in the past. The 2014 FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships will be held in Larnaka, Cyprus, with the event set to take place from July 22 to 27. This age-group World Championship has been held every year since 2001 so this will be the 14th annual U21championships.

The 2014 FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships will be held in Porto, Portugal on July 29 to August 3. First held in 2002, this year will be the 13th annual U19 Championships.

Bahia de Banderas (Bay of Flags) is a bay on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, within the Mexican states of Jalisco and Nayarit. It is also the name of an administrative municipality located on the bay in Nayarit state. The port and resort city of Puerto Vallarta is also on the bay.

Tourism is very important to the local economies, and the Bahía de Banderas coast is an important location of tourist facilities development in both states. Numerous attractive beaches and landscapes are along the 100 kilometers (62 miles) coastline.

The Municipality of Bahía de Banderas in Nayarit state has a total area of 773.3 km. It was created in 1989. Its westernmost headland is Punta Mita while to the south it is on the Bahía de Banderas, and northwards it is on the open Pacific Ocean. The municipality has a population of nearly 100,000. The long valley of Banderas, and abundance of water, allow for extensive cattle-raising. The mountains contain an important ecological reserve in the eastern section.

The age-group FIVB World Championships have historically seen many of the young stars of today building their experience level to advance up the ladder in international competition. This year’s 2014 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour for professional athletes will include 10 FIVB Grand Slam events, a new FIVB Grand Slam Final and nine FIVB Beach Volleyball Open events.

The format of all the FIVB Beach Volleyball international tournaments - whether pro or age-group FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships, FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam or FIVB Beach Volleyball Open - are the same, featuring pool play followed by single elimination knockout rounds.