FIVB, official beach volleyball world championship, women's challenger, Beijing

© Basko Beach Kontest

The FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) is the international governing body for volleyball. It's the largest sports organisation in the world with 218 affiliated national federations and 33 million licensed athletes. The 2007 season started in China in May and will finish in November (in Thailand for the women's championship, and in Indonesia for the men's).

The World Tour, the official FIVB circuit, is organised each year. When it was established in 1989 there were only three rounds, but there are now more than 30 in 5 continents.

Every other year, the FIVB organises a beach volleyball world championship. This year, Switzerland is hosting the World Championships from 24th to 29th July in Gstaad. All news about the World Tour, the full calendar, plus male and female world rankings can be found on the FIVB website: www.fivb.org

Also, from the 13th to the 19th of August, beach volleyball is set to hit Beijing for the 2007 FIVB Beach Volleyball Women's Challenger. For more information, visit the official tournament site: www.beachvolleyball2007.org.cn

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