FIVB RELEASES UPDATED BEACH VOLLEYBALL CALENDAR,U19 Beach Volleyball World Championships to be played between 24-28 March 2021

                

Further changes to the FIVB beach volleyball calendar were announced today following the evaluation and reassessment of its international events in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The FIVB has been regularly monitoring the global situation and, following discussions with the relevant National Federations and promoters, has decided on several revisions to the beach volleyball calendar. As always, the protection of the health and wellbeing of players, officials, and fans remains the FIVB’s top consideration in all decisions taken.

The FIVB and event organisers have mutually agreed to the following changes to the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour calendar:

• U19 Beach Volleyball World Championships scheduled for 10-15 November in Roi Et, Thailand – postponed to 24-28 March 2021
• Previously postponed 4-star event in Yangzhou, China – cancelled
• Previously postponed 1-star events in Satun, Thailand and Tuan Chau Island, Vietnam – cancelled
• 2-star event in Larnaka, Cyprus, originally scheduled for 18-20 September 2020 – cancelled

It is important to note that the age limit for the postponed U19 Beach Volleyball World Championships will remain the same as it was for the 2020 event. As such, participating athletes must be born on 1 January 2002 onwards.

The FIVB looks ahead with optimism to the return of beach volleyball action with several events already being held safely across Europe. Continued assessments are taking place in regards to health and safety protocols, international travel restrictions and policies.

The FIVB Ranking System has been frozen since 16 March 2020. The FIVB will continue to monitor all global travel restrictions and access to competitions ahead of every single World Tour stop. As the situation is constantly evolving, further announcements will be made in the coming weeks on the possible resumption of the Ranking System. This will depend on securing fair access for all eligible participants to events, and details will be communicated in the Event Regulations of each scheduled event.

In addition, the FIVB recently published its guidelines to help Continental Confederations and National Federations create a safe environment to restart beach volleyball activities, but only if permitted by local health and government authorities.

The FIVB has also launched the application process for the 2020/2021 calendar, including the FIVB U21 World Championships in 2021, and is aiming to feature as many 1 to 5-star events across the globe as possible. The revised terms and conditions for hosting FIVB World Tour events have also been communicated to all stakeholders and posted on the FIVB website. 

TVA, PHUKET GEAR UP FOR BIG EVENTS IN 2021

TVA officials on Tuesday inspected Royal Phuket City Hotel and the Phuket Gymnasium at Saphan Hin Sports Centre, which will serve as Official Team Hotel and competition venue for the 3rd Asian U19 Beach Volleyball Championships and FIVB Volleyball Nations League in 2021.

Mr Somporn Chaibangyang, President of Thailand Volleyball Association, led an inspection team which included AVC Secretary-General Mr Shanrit Wongprasert and TVA Secretary-General Mr Jaksuwan Tocharoen in assessing inspection and preparatory tasks in Phuket, a southern province in Thailand widely known among the world’s finest beach destinations with fine white sands, nodding palm trees, glittering seas and a lively town.

The Tuesday’s inspection was part of preparatory tasks of TVA and Phuket in an effort of jointly hosting major volleyball competitions and relevant activities next year. Both parties have initially planned to co-host the 3rd Asian U19 Beach Volleyball Championships during March 12-15, 2020 at Saphan Hin Sports Centre and the Women’s VNL Pool 17 in June 2020.

However, on March 13, the FIVB decided to postpone the VNL until after the 2020 Summer Olympics caused by the Covid19 pandemic and after that on May 8, the FIVB cancelled the third edition of VNL to next year.

By the same token, the Asian U19 Beach Volleyball Championships have been postponed to August 26-29, 2020 before AVC has decided to shift the commencement of the double-gender competition to January 2021 due to the prolonged lockdown restrictions in many Asian countries, the quarantine measures and suspension of international airlines.

Therefore, to ensure that everything remains on the right track for Phuket to host both competitions next year, the inspection team arrived in Phuket to discuss with newly-announced Phuket Governor Narong Woonchiew and Phuket Municipality Mayor Ms Somjai Suwansupana about preparations and tasks which need to get done.

Aside from attending the meeting with the two key persons of Phuket to discuss the relevant matters, the TVA officials also went to inspect the Royal Phuket City Hotel to obtain first-hand information of the hotel, which will serve for players, teams and officials during their stay in Phuket for the 3rd Asian U19 Beach Volleyball Championships in January 2021 and the Women’s VNL in June.

Furthermore, Phuket will also host the 37th FIVB World Congress, which was originally scheduled for October 15-17, 2020, but the FIVB Board of Administration has approved the rescheduling of the Congress to January 27-29, 2021 due to the global Covid19 outbreak.

The decision to reschedule the meeting to 2021 reflects the Federation’s top priority of protecting the healthy and safety of the entire Volleyball Family. Due to the rapid spread of the deadly virus which has caused greater numbers, documented infections and deaths worldwide, it is likely that the Congress will be again rescheduled until further notice. However, it has already been confirmed that the 37th FIVB World Congress will be held in Phuket, with Angsana Laguna Phuket serving as the Official Hotel.

CANCELLATION AND POSTPONEMENT CONFIRMED FOR 2020 AVC CHAMPIONSHIPS

As the massive global Covid19 outbreak has brought Asian volleyball activities to a complete standstill with countries imposing tight air travel restrictions, AVC has just made an unprecedented move on Thursday, deciding to cancel all 2020 AVC senior competitions and postpone all Asian Underage Championships to next year.

AVC has earlier circulated information and updates to host countries and participating federations concerning the staging and possibility to participate in the 2020 Asian Championships but received immediate responses from the NFs that international flights remain restricted to most international airports, while there are also major restrictions on incoming travellers.

The global Covid19 pandemic has made a potential impact on hosting the 2020 AVC competitions. With Asian countries extending their lockdown restrictions, the quarantine measures and international airlines halting their flights, the AVC Cup for Men and Women, the Asian Men’s and Women’s Clubs Championships and all AVC Beach Tour events have been cancelled, while Asian U19 Beach Volleyball Championships, which are supposed to take place in the period between August and October, look difficult and have to shift the commencement to next year.

Learning that the participating federations cannot travel until the end of 2020, the AVC Board of Administration has come to a decision to cancel all 2020 AVC senior competitions except the Asian Underage Championships, four of which have been postponed to 2021. Following the decision, AVC has on Thursday, July 16, circulated the updated information to all AVC affiliated NFs to confirm the cancellation and postponement of 2020 AVC Championships.

AVC has also informed all affiliated NFs that the AVC General Assembly is likely to be held in mid-October 2020. However, due to the unstable Covid19 situation, the specific date of the Assembly will be reconfirmed ahead of the new date of FIVB World Congress, expected to be announced by FIVB within August 2020. For the delegations’ convenience, AVC will confirm all AVC affiliated NFs at least two months prior to the AVC General Assembly in order that they can apply for entry visa and issue the air tickets in time.

Cloud of uncertainty has loomed over the future of the AVC Championships since the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus has been first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Major competitions both indoor and beach volleyball events have been put on hold, making a cancellation and rescheduling the only options left.

AVC has been closely following the pandemic of the novel coronavirus on a daily basis since the beginning of January 2020 and also is in active communication with FIVB and AVC Board of Administration in an effort of continuing its activities and competitions on schedule as many as possible.

However, the Covid19 has still spread with alarming speed, reportedly infecting over 13.7 million and killing up to 588,000 as of July 16. With the strict safety measures of FIVB and AVC to safeguard the health of athletes, everybody involved at the competitions and the Asian volleyball community in particular, AVC decided to cancel all 2020 AVC senior competitions and postpone the aforementioned Asian Underage Championships.

2020 AVC CHAMPIONSHIPS LIKELY TO GO AHEAD DESPITE COVID19 FEARS

AVC has planned to organise its 23rd General Assembly in coming October, as hosts, participating teams and AVC TV Media Partner have geared up for all 2020 AVC Championships on condition that the Covid19 situation starts getting back to normality within June.

The 23rd AVC General Assembly was first due to be held in Bangkok in June but has to be postponed in accordance with the new dates for the FIVB World Congress, which was rescheduled for January 27-29, 2021 in Phuket, Thailand. Taking the FIVB’s timeline into consideration for further decision, AVC has planned to hold the 23rd edition of its General Assembly in October 2020. The new dates for the biennial meeting have been set to be officially confirmed as soon as the Covid19 situation returns to normal, with Asian countries lifting their lockdown restrictions and airports and transportation solutions implemented to ensure continuity of service.

To make sure that staging all 2020 AVC Championships remains on the right track, AVC has recently circulated its letter to all affiliated National Federations, presenting its two Options, which have already been approved by AVC Board of Administration Members and showed possibility and probability for AVC to organise 2020 AVC Championships amid growing Coronavirus 2019 Disease (Covid19) outbreak.

In Option 1, if the Covid-19 situation improves dramatically within the end of June 2020, AVC needs either 2 or 2 and a half months for keeping a tight grip on coordinating with host countries, participating teams and AVC TV Media Partner in preparation for the organisation of the Championships.

For volleyball, in particular, AVC has less than two months to complete eight Championships ahead of the 2020-2021 National League season.

In the light of Covid19 pandemic, the continental governing body can organise 2020 AVC Championships and relevant competitions from last week of August or early September until the second week of October 2020.

Four AVC Championships abided by TV Partner and New Media contracts – Asian Men’s and Women’s Clubs Championships and AVC Cup for Men and Women – must be finished within September or the first week of October at the latest.

The other Championships without a landmark television agreement with TV Media Partner comprise AVC Challenge Cup for Men and Women, Asian Men’s U20 and Asian Women’s U19 Championships and Asian Men’s U18 and Asian Women’s U17 Championships.

The AVC Challenge Cup for Men and Women and the Asian Men’s U20 and Asian Women’s U19 Championships, which serve as the qualification tournaments for the FIVB Men’s U21 and Women’s U20 World Championships, can be held at the same period (from September to the first week of October), while the Asian Men’s U18 and Asian Women’s U17 Championships, the qualification tournaments for the FIVB Men’s U19 and Women’s U18 World Championships, can take place in September until December.

Regarding beach volleyball, the AVC Continental Cup Semi-Finals (Phase 2) and Finals (Phase 3) were postponed. However, as the FIVB has already confirmed that all the Continental Cup SemiFinals and Finals shall take place by no later than May 2, 2021, the AVC Continental Cup Semi-Finals and Finals, therefore, should be held ahead of the afore-mentioned date in order that the qualified teams will have enough time to prepare themselves for the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games between July 23 and August 8, 2021.

Meanwhile, the Asian U19 Beach Volleyball Championships are due to be organised from last week of August and the other Asian Beach Volleyball Tours will also kick off from September 2020. However, AVC will confirm competition regulations with host federations within coming June.

In terms of the other AVC Zonal Championships, each zone can make decisions on their own but shall inform AVC to include relevant competition information to the revised 2020 AVC Competition Calendar.

Nevertheless, the AVC Competition Calendar can be modified in accordance with availability of the host federations but shall be organized at the above-mentioned period and agreed among AVC, TV Media Partner and organizers. AVC will reconfirm the Competition Calendar at the beginning of July 2020.

In Option 2, unless the Covid19 outbreak can be easily predicted, with the crisis continuing until the end of July 2020, making AVC Championships unable to go ahead as planned, AVC has decided to cancel all 2020 AVC Championships and relevant competitions because the 2020-2021 National League season will start from October 15, 2020.

Instead, AVC will try to organise the Underage Championships (Women’s U18, Men’s U19, Women’s U20 and Men’s U21) during January and February 2021 in order that the Asian qualified teams can be decided ahead of the FIVB Underage World Championships later next year.

FIVB ANNOUNCES CANCELLATION OF VNL 2020

The FIVB today announced the cancellation of the FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2020 due to the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic and its impact on host cities being able to deliver safe, accessible and high-quality competitions.

The VNL 2020 was scheduled to begin on 19 May 2020 for the women’s competition and 22 May 2020 for the men’s event. The FIVB announced the postponement of the event in March 2020, in order to protect the health of players and all involved, and hoped to find a date later in the year.

However, given the evolving nature of the pandemic, the complexity of staging the global event, across multiple host countries, and the commitment to safeguarding participants’ health, the VNL Council, the FIVB Board of Administration and the event organisers, jointly agreed to cancel this year’s edition of the VNL. The FIVB is continuing to work closely with all parties to coordinate the schedule for the VNL 2021 while retaining both Italy and China as the host nations for the Finals.

FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça F° said:

“Together with our partners, we had explored all the various options to host the VNL 2020. Part of what makes the VNL so special is that it is a truly global event enjoyed by players and especially by fans from all around the world. But this strength also increases its risk during this current global pandemic. It would, therefore, be imprudent, maybe even irresponsible for us to go ahead with the event when we cannot provide players and all stakeholders with the certainty that the VNL 2020 would be safe, accessible to all and held at a high level.

“Instead, our attention now turns to VNL 2021 and making sure it is our best ever edition. I know that our incredible athletes will be unrelenting in their efforts to prepare for the competition, and I have no doubt that next year will prove to be a very exciting year for volleyball.”

In addition, both the men’s and women’s editions of the 2020 FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup, originally scheduled to be hosted in Gondomar, Portugal and Zadar, Croatia between 24-28 June respectively, will not be held this year. Teams that qualified for the VNL 2020 in the 2019 edition of the Challenger Cup, the Slovenia national men’s volleyball team and Canada national women’s volleyball team, will retain their places for the VNL 2021.

Last year’s edition of the VNL featured 16 of the world’s best teams in each gender competing for the coveted VNL Champions title. Russia took first place in the men’s finals in Chicago, the United States and the USA took the top spot in the women’s in front of huge crowds in Nanjing, China. The event also saw more digital fan engagement than ever before, with the attraction of over 550,000 new social media followers and an incredible 3.8 billion social media impressions over the course of the competition. The VNL 2021 will look to top these figures by captivating volleyball fans across the globe once again.

AVC RELEASES TENTATIVE DRAFT OF REVISED 2020 VOLLEYBALL CALENDAR

All 2020 Asian Underage Championships shall be organised by the end of this year in accordance with the availability of host countries despite grave concerns over the global Covid-19 outbreak.

AVC has been closely following the massive pandemic of the novel coronavirus on a daily basis since the beginning of January 2020 and also is in active communication with AVC Board of Administration and AVC Technical Committees in an effort of continuing its activities and competitions on schedule as many as possible.

In light of the rapid spread of Covid-19 around the world which has resulted in the temporary suspension of global airlines operations, AVC has decided to suspend all activities from the third week of February 2020.

However, in its best possible preparation for the resumption of services and activities in case the Covid-19 could eventually be under control with all airlines able to resume normal operations of commercial flights, AVC has sent the tentative draft of the revised 2020 AVC Competition Calendar to its Board of Administration and all affiliated National Federations, implementing a strategic plan to organise all AVC competitions in case the Covid-19 situations will be drastically improving within June 2020.

Regarding the modified 2020 AVC Competition Calendar, the 2020 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand and the 20th Asian Women’s U19 Volleyball Championship in Chongqing, China will be the first two AVC Championships to be held this year and are likely to be held simultaneously from August 30 to September 6.

The 2020 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship in Tianjin, China and the 20th Asian Men’s U20 Volleyball Championship in Tehran, Iran will be the next two AVC competitions to be organised at the same period from September 10 to 17, 2020.

After that, Myanmar will host the 2020 AVC Cup for Men in Nay Pyi Taw from September 21 to 28, while the 2nd AVC Challenge Cup for Women will also be be organised at the same period but host country remains unconfirmed officially.

From October 1 to 8, Chinese Taipei will host the 2020 AVC Cup for Women in Yunlin, with the 2nd AVC Challenge Cup for Men taking place in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan between October 3 and 10.

During November 1 and 8, Thailand will host the 13th Asian Women’s U17 Volleyball Championship in Nakhon Pathom, while host country for the 13th Asian Men’s U18 Volleyball Championship from November 15 to 22 has yet been officially confirmed. Nonetheless, if necessary and unlikely to be held in “regular” fashion, both tournaments can be postponed until February 2021 because most of the underage players do not participate in National League season, which will start from October 15.

The revised Competition Calendar shall be organised in the above-mentioned period and agreed among AVC, TV Media Partners and organisers ahead of the reconfirmation by AVC at the beginning of July 2020.

However, if the growing Covid-19 outbreak continues until the end of July 2020, AVC has planned to cancel all 2020 AVC Championships and Competitions and the qualified teams for 2021 Underage World Championships are poised to be decided by FIVB world ranking.

In 2020, only 4 AVC Championships – Asian Men’s and Women’s Clubs Championships and AVC Cup for Men and Women – will be held upon the effective TV rights deal with TV Media Partners, while the other Championships including all four Underage Championships will take place without any rights issue to deal with TV Media Partners.

TENTATIVE DRAFT OF REVISED 2020 AVC COMPETITION CALENDAR

August 30-September 6: 2020 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
August 30-September 6: 20th Asian Women’s U19 Volleyball Championship Chongqing, China
September 10-17: 2020 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship in Tianjin, China
September 10-17: 20th Asian Men’s U20 Volleyball Championship in Tehran, Iran
September 21-28: 2020 AVC Cup for Men in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
September 21-28: 2nd AVC Challenge Cup for Women (TBD)
October 1-8: 2020 AVC Cup for Women in Yunlin, Chinese Taipei
October 3-10: 2nd AVC Challenge Cup for Men in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan
November 1-8: 13th Asian Women’s U17 Volleyball Championship in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand (or February 2021)
November 15-22: 13th Asian Men’s U18 Volleyball Championship TBD (or February 2021)

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED FOR REVISED 2020 AVC BEACH VOLLEYBALL COMPETITIONS

Following the recent release of the tentative draft of the 2020 Volleyball Competition Calendar amidst the Covid-19 outbreak, AVC on Friday announced its intention to hold four beach volleyball events later this year.

Due to the rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), AVC, carefully monitoring the situation in full cooperation with its Board of Administration, FIVB and all affiliated National Federations, decided to postpone many beach volleyball events, considering the health and well-being of athletes, officials and fans as its top priority.

The tournaments postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak included the 2020 Asian U19 Beach Volleyball Championships, due to take place at Saphan Hin Park in Phuket, Thailand between March 12 and 15, the Asian Beach Volleyball Tour “Samila Open” in Songkhla, Thailand from April 14 to 16 and the AVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Tour Can Tho Open in Vietnam between April 20 and 23.

The AVC Continental Cup Semi-finals and Finals, which serve as the qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and due to take place in China’s coronavirus epicentre Wuhan from June 20 to 22 and June 25 to 28 respectively, also suffered a fresh setback when both events have been postponed until next year.

In addition, the FIVB World Tour 1-star event Pak Bara Open in Satun, Thailand from April 8 to 11 was cancelled, while the FIVB U19 Beach Volleyball World Championships in Roi Et, Thailand during September 1 and 6 has been postponed to a later date.

According to tentative scheduling, AVC announced its intent to organise four Asian beach volleyball competitions this year. The Asian U19 Beach Volleyball Championships are expected to get the 2020 AVC beach volleyball events off to a good start when the double-gender competition has been rescheduled to be held in Phuket, Thailand from August 26 to 29.

Thailand will also organise the double-gender Asian Beach Volleyball Tour “Samila Open,” postponed earlier to be rescheduled for September 19-22 at Samila Beach in Songkhla, while the other two events comprise the Asian Beach Volleyball Tour in Penghu Islands in Chinese Taipei between October 14 and 18 and the AVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Tour Can Tho Open in Vietnam during October 24 and 28.

The other two major beach volleyball competitions will also be held in November, with the 2020 FIVB U19 Beach Volleyball World Championships being rescheduled for November 10-15 in Roi Et, Thailand and the 6th Asian Beach Games taking place in Sanya, China between November 26 and December 5.

Despite the release of the tentative draft of the 2020 AVC Beach Volleyball Competitions, the schedule can be modified up to the availability of host countries but shall be organised in the above-mentioned period and agreed among AVC, TV Media Partners and the organisers. Reconfirmation for the 2020 AVC Beach Volleyball Competitions will be announced by AVC at the beginning of July 2020.

TENTATIVE DRAFT OF REVISED 2020 AVC BEACH VOLLEYBALL COMPETITIONS
August 26-29: Asian U19 Beach Volleyball Championships in Phuket, Thailand
September 19-22: Asian Beach Volleyball Tour “Samila Open” in Songkhla, Thailand
October 14-18: Asian Beach Volleyball Tour in Penghu, Chinese Taipei
October 24-28: AVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Tour Can Tho Open in Can Tho, Vietnam
November 10-15: 2020 FIVB U19 Beach Volleyball World Championships in Roi-Et, Thailand
November 26-December 5: 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China

FIVB ANNOUNCE CHANGES TO THE BEACH VOLLEYBALL CALENDAR IN MAY

In consideration of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and to protect the health and wellbeing of all involved, the FIVB has announced changes to the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour events scheduled for May.

Given the current global travel limitations, the FIVB and the event organisers have mutually agreed that the following event postponements, and one cancellation, are in the best interests of the participants’ health, and are also the fairest solution for the players.

• 1-star event scheduled for 6-9 May in Tuan Chau Island, Vietnam – postponed
• 4-star event scheduled for 6-10 May in Itapema, Brazil – postponed
• 3-star event scheduled for 6-10 May in Jurmala, Latvia – postponed
• 4-star event scheduled for 20-24 May in Ostrava, Czech Republic – postponed
• 4-star event scheduled for 27-31 May in Warsaw, Poland – cancelled

The FIVB is also reassessing all events scheduled for June, and is in ongoing discussions with Continental Confederations regarding future Continental Cup events. The FIVB acknowledges that further changes to the beach volleyball calendar are likely, and is in contact with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) about revising the beach volleyball qualification system for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. 

AVC VOLLEYBALL AND BEACH VOLLEYBALL SEASON PUT ON HOLD AMID COVID-19 FEARS

In light of the growing spread of the naval coronavirus “Covid-19” which has caused international travel limitations in different parts of Asia and a strict lockdown implemented in many countries, AVC came to a decision to either cancel or postpone upcoming activities and competitions until further notice.

As the world and Asia, in particular, is facing an unprecedented health challenge, clearly, a collective response is needed. Cooperation and mutual understanding must be the guiding principles for all decision-makers to have in mind at this crucial moment in time. Health and well-being of athletes, officials and fans is definitely the AVC’s highest priority, while the mutual decision to cancel or postpone the event was made in the best interest of all parties involved.

It goes without saying that AVC will keep in regular contact with all Asian volleyball family during this difficult period. During this time, athletes and team officials will have the opportunity to hold the team together, through thick and thin, emerge stronger and better prepared for the brighter future.

Thus, AVC, in close consultation with all participating National Federations and relevant sporting authorities, has decided on the future of the volleyball and beach volleyball season for the upcoming weeks.

Regarding volleyball competitions, hosts Bangladesh had already confirmed that the 2020 Asian Senior Men’s Central Zone Volleyball Championship in Dhaka from March 22-28 is postponed and has been rescheduled for September 5-11. AVC had also gave organisers Thailand Volleyball Association and host province Nakhon Ratchasima the green light when they asked for the postponement of the 2020 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship from April 18-25 and is rescheduled for August 10-17.

The 3rd Gulf Cooperation Council Games Volleyball Tournament in Kuwait, which is initially set to be held between April 4 and 14, is also postponed until December due to the Covid-19 pandemic. More importantly, the FIVB has decided to postpone the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) until after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

In terms of beach volleyball events, hosts Thailand decided to call off two major competitions – the FIVB World Tour 1-star event Pak Bara Open in Satun from April 8-11 and the Asian Beach Volleyball Tour Samila Open at Samila Beach in Songkhla between April 14 and 17. However, both events, according to AVC Beach Volleyball Director Mr Kritsada Panaseri, are expected to be held later in September.

The 2020 AVC Asian U19 Beach Volleyball Championships at Saphan Hin Park in Phuket, Thailand from March 12 to 15 was also postponed, with the new schedule likely during September 23-27, while the FIVB U19 Beach Volleyball World Championships in Roi Et, Thailand from September 1 to 6 also need to be rescheduled. However, the new competition schedule will be confirmed by FIVB later this year.

Earlier, the 2020 AVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Tour Can Tho Open in Vietnam between April 20-23 was postponed and rescheduled for October 24-28, while the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour 3-star event at Coolangatta Beach, Gold Coast, Australia from March 18-22 was also called off. The FIVB and Volleyball Australia will work together to identify competition dates later in 2020 when the event can be held, as the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour 3-star event in Jinjiang, China from May 13-17 was cancelled over grave Covid-19 outbreak concerns.

The situation around the Covid-19 virus is also impacting the preparations for the Semi-finals and Finals of the AVC Continental Cup, a beach volleyball double-gender event which has served as the qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, in China’s coronavirus epicentre Wuhan. The Semi-Finals are due to take place from June 20 to 22, with the Finals being held between June 25 and 28.

Kritsada said that since Wuhan is the city where the Covid-19 outbreak began, it’s likely that the Semi-finals and Finals of the 2020 AVC Continental Cup will be moved out of Wuhan to be held in another Chinese city instead. However, on condition that the Semi-finals and Finals cannot be organised in China, Vanuatu is possible to replace Wuhan as the alternative host options for the events.

On this matter, AVC Secretary-General Mr Shanrit Wongprasert said that AVC Headquarters is evaluating the status of each event on a case-by-case basis. By working closely with the relevant National Federations and event organisers, AVC then can make things clear if each event can be held amid the Covid-19 crisis.

“To get through tough times during the Covid-19 outbreak is not that easy. AVC has to assess each event in all aspects, work closely with participating National Federations and event organisers and conduct a feasibility study whether we have to postpone or cancel an event or switch to the other host nation. After that, AVC Headquarters will circulate emails to AVC Board of Administration Members for them to study the relevant matters thoroughly and make a final decision on each event if it should be postponed or cancelled. Normally, the final decision should be made within two months in order that the host nation and organisers can be well-prepared for the staging of that tournament. Regarding the AVC Continental Cup Semi-finals and Finals, AVC Headquarters will circulate emails to BA Members for further consideration and decision at the end of March or in early April.” Shanrit was quoted as saying.

“Over fears of the Covid-19 spread, AVC Headquarters finds that chances of staging AVC competitions during this time remain uncertain. We have to wait and see what we can do during this difficult period. However, we will keep regular contact with all National Federations, event organisers and BA Members to make sure that the volleyball and beach volleyball season can continue with a brighter prospect,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Asian International Referee Candidate Course, which is due to take place in Doha, Qatar from April 3 to 9, 2020, is postponed and rescheduled for October-November.