FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships
Overview
The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships is a prestigious international beach volleyball competition organized by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. The championship is held biennially and features the top beach volleyball players from around the world.
History
The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships was first held in 1997 in Los Angeles, United States. The tournament was created to provide a platform for the best beach volleyball players in the world to compete and showcase their skills. The championships have since been held in various locations around the world, including Rio de Janeiro, Berlin, and Vienna.
Format
The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships follow a double elimination format. Teams are divided into pools and play a round-robin within their pool. The top teams from each pool then advance to the knockout stages. Matches are played in a best-of-three sets format, with the first team to win two sets declared the winner.
Categories
The championships are divided into two categories: men's and women's. Each category features 48 teams from around the world. The teams are selected based on their performance in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour and the FIVB Beach Volleyball Continental Cup.
Prize Money
The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships offer substantial prize money, making it one of the most lucrative events in beach volleyball. The total prize money for the 2019 championships was $1 million, with the winning teams in both the men's and women's categories each receiving $60,000.
Notable Champions
Over the years, the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships have seen a number of notable champions. These include the Brazilian duo of Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos, who won the men's category three times, and the American pair of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, who won the women's category three times.
Impact on the Sport
The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships have had a significant impact on the sport of beach volleyball. The championships have helped to popularize the sport globally and have contributed to the development of beach volleyball as a professional sport. The high level of competition at the championships has also led to improvements in the skills and tactics used in beach volleyball.