FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour
Overview
The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour is a worldwide professional beach volleyball circuit organized by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB). The tour was established in 1989, and it has grown to become the premier competition in international beach volleyball, featuring both men's and women's divisions.
History
The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour was first launched in 1989, marking the start of a new era for the sport of beach volleyball. The inaugural season saw a total of four events, two each for men and women. Over the years, the tour has expanded significantly, with the number of events, prize money, and global participation all increasing dramatically.
Structure
The World Tour is structured around a series of tournaments held throughout the year in various locations around the world. These tournaments are categorized into different tiers based on the total prize money and the number of ranking points available. The tiers include 1-Star, 2-Star, 3-Star, 4-Star, and 5-Star events, with the 5-Star events offering the highest prize money and ranking points.
Competition Format
Each tournament in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour follows 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 stage, where they compete in a series of single-elimination matches until a champion is crowned.
Teams and Players
The World Tour attracts the top beach volleyball players from around the globe. Each team consists of two players, and teams can be composed of players of the same or different nationalities. However, for the purposes of Olympic qualification, teams must be composed of players from the same country.
Ranking System
The FIVB uses a complex ranking system to determine the seeding of teams in World Tour events. The system takes into account a team's best finishes in FIVB sanctioned events over a 365-day period. The ranking points accumulated by teams also play a crucial role in determining qualification for the Olympic Games and the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships.
Prize Money and Awards
Each tournament on the World Tour offers a set amount of prize money, which is distributed among the top finishers. In addition to prize money, players also compete for individual awards such as the Best Server, Best Setter, and Most Valuable Player, which are awarded at the end of each season.
Impact and Legacy
The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour has played a significant role in the growth and development of beach volleyball as a professional sport. It has helped to increase the sport's global visibility and popularity, and it has provided a platform for athletes from around the world to compete at the highest level.