Luxembourg, July 14, 2020 – The FIVB and European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) today confirmed that a men’s and women’s 1-star event will be taking place from 20 to 23 August 2020 at the iconic Strandbad venue in Baden, Austria, while international competition will return to Vilnius, Lithuania with a 1-star event of their own on 10-13 September.
In Austria, beach volleyball has led the way for the return of competitive sport following a period of quarantine due to the coronavirus pandemic. For example, the HYPO NOE Beach Volleyball Champions Cup was held in late June through to early July, providing the perfect opportunity for elite players to sharpen their skills and practice in a competitive environment.
The Strandbad in Baden is one of Austria’s most popular destinations for beach volleyball teams and has been home to several prestigious international competitions over the past decade. The Baden 1-star event will take place almost two and a half weeks after the completion of the 1-star World Tour stop in Ljubljana, Slovenia as the FIVB aims to ensure the safe return of beach volleyball events. The organisers in Baden will take the necessary precautions and adhere to relevant hygiene protocols to ensure the health and wellbeing of every single player, official and fan.
Baden had been due to host one of the three events scheduled for the second stage of the CEV Continental Cup, but these were all postponed until the spring of 2021 in light of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Lithuanian Volleyball Federation (LTF) has confirmed the cancellation of a 2-star women’s event scheduled for late August in Klaipeda. However, in an effort to provide opportunities for players to compete, the LTF has confirmed plans to organise a 1-star men’s and women’s event on 10-13 September 2020 in Vilnius, Lithuania. This will mark the return of international competition to the Lithuanian capital after the reopening of a fully refurbished Beach Volleyball Centre in late June.
Additionally, the local organisers of a 2-star women’s event in Larnaka, Cyprus have decided to reschedule the event for 25-27 September to avoid a clash with the CEV European Beach Volleyball Championship 2020 in Jurmala, Latvia on 16-20 September.
The updated beach volleyball calendar can be downloaded here