AVC, based on the decisions of the most recent AVC Board of Administration, has recently released a competition calendar for 2021.
According to the updated calendar, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand has replaced China as hosts for the 2021 AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup Semi-Finals between June 18 and 19 and Finals from June 25 to 27, with eventual winners in both men’s and women’s events qualifying for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
The AVC Continental Cup Semi-Finals and Finals had been originally scheduled on June 18-27, 2021 in Xiamen, China, but following the serious discussions about entry policy and control measures, the organisers, in a bubble concept, cannot provide any training in the 14-day quarantine period upon teams’ arrival and thus decided to withdraw as hosts for the AVC Continental Cup.
Aside from the AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup Semi-Finals and Finals, Nakhon Pathom also received a nod from the AVC BA to additionally host two major beach volleyball tournaments. They comprise the 3rd Asian U19 Beach Volleyball Championships, a qualification tournament for FIVB U19 Beach Volleyball World Championships, between July 3 and 6 and the 4th Asian U21 Beach Volleyball Championships, a qualification tournament for FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championships, from July 12 to 15.
Meanwhile, the host country for the 2021 Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships will be decided later this year as Songkhla, Thailand, hosts for the traditional Samila Asian Beach Volleyball Tour as well as Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships for consecutive years, and Iran have recently announced their bids to organise the top-flight beach volleyball competition, while a bidding process for new candidates is also possible. The competition schedule either from August 17 to 21 or in November/December will be confirmed later.
Another traditional beach volleyball event has already been confirmed in Penghu, Chinese Taipei when the country has decided to host the 3rd AVC Beach Volleyball Tour Penghu Open in either late September or early October.
Regarding the volleyball event, AVC will organise four Championships this year comprising Asian Senior Women’s Championship, Asian Senior Men’s Championship, Asian Men’s Club Championship and Asian Women’s Club Championship.
The Philippines, which hosted the Asian Senior Women’s Championship twice in 1997 and 2017, received the AVC’s green light to organise the top-tier championship for the third time later this year. Earlier, the 21st edition had been set to take place in Jiangmen, China, but the country pulled out as hosts for some reasons.
The 21st Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship is due to be held in Subic and Clark, the Philippines from August 29 to September 5, 2021.
Meanwhile, Japan will host the Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship for the first time in 38 years. After making its debut efforts in organising the Asian meet in 1983 in Tokyo, where the host side captured their second gold in the biennial competition, Japan has already confirmed to host the 21st edition in Chiba between September 12 and 19, 2021.
The last two events will be held in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, with the 2021 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship taking place from September 24 to October 1 and the 2021 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship being organised during October 6 and 13.
