AVC RELEASES UPDATED 2021 COMPETITION CALENDAR WITH RESCHEDULED EVENTS

 

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.

VOLLEYBALL WORLD ANNOUNCES HOSTS OF THE 2021 AND 2022 FIVB VOLLEYBALL CLUB WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

 

Volleyball World today announced that Guangzhou INFearless Investment Co Ltd from China will organise the 2021 and 2022 editions of the men’s and women’s FIVB Volleyball Club World Championships.

Guangzhou INFearless Investment Co Ltd will host both the men’s and women’s editions for the upcoming two years. The host cities and dates will be determined at a later stage with the 2021 event planned for the end of the year. The prestigious club competition, which was first held in 1989, will enter into its 16th and 17th editions in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

The 2019 men’s and women’s editions of the event were staged in Brazil and China respectively, with Italian clubs Lube Civitanova and Imoco Volley claiming gold, while the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic following the decision of the FIVB Board of Administration.

Guangzhou INFearless Investment Co Ltd has extensive experience and credentials as organisers and service providers of volleyball events, including both the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship and Chinese Volleyball Super League “All Star Match” in 2018 and 2019, VNL 2018 leg in Jiangmen, China as well as the Guangdong home matches of the Chinese Volleyball Super League.

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.