SWATCH FIVB World U’21’s supported by NIVEA SUN - 3-7 Sept

NIVEA SUN Yellowave, Brighton to host 2008 SWATCH FIVB Junior World Championships

With the London 2012 Olympic Games in the future Great Britain will host its first-ever international Beach Volleyball event, with Brighton the site for the 2008 SWATCH FIVB World Championships supported by NIVEA SUN, for players under 21 years old. The eighth annual event will be held September 3-7 in Brighton. The 2008 Under-21 gold medal team will be rewarded a "wild card" by the FIVB for a future SWATCH FIVB World Tour event during the final two months of 2008 or in 2009.

The event will shortly follow the Olympic hand over from Beijing to London. It will be a truly exciting time for beach volleyball in this country and an event not to miss.

Of the seven previous SWATCH FIVB World Championships for players under 21 years old, Brazilians have captured three men's and six women's titles. Brighton will be the sixth European site for the championships after Modena hosted the 2007 event, where the teams of Francesco Giontella/Paolo Nicolai of Italy and Lili Maestrini/Barbara Seixas of Brazil captured the men's and women's titles, respectively. With Giontella named the top men's player in Modena, the Under-21 title was the first-ever youth beach volleyball gold medal for Italy. At the 2006 Under-19 event in Bermuda, Giontella and Nicolai claimed the silver medal with compatriots Matteo and Paolo Ingrosso placing third for Italy. Seixas successfully defended her Under-21 crown after winning the 2006 gold medal in Poland with Carolina Aragao in Myslowice. The young Brazilians also won the 2005 Under-19 title in Saint Quay Portrieux, France.

"The FIVB is very proud to stage a world event in a country like the United Kingdom, aiming to increase the awareness of beach volleyball leading towards the smooth preparation of the beach volleyball tournaments at the 2012 Olympic Games, which will be held in the centre of London in Horse Guards Parade," said Angelo Squeo, the FIVB Beach Volleyball Events Director.

Extra temporary courts will be built along Madeira Drive and a 2000 seat stadium erected around NIVEA SUN Yellowave. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased from Volleyball England, Ticketmaster or direct from the venue.

To buy tickets online visit:

www.brightoncentre.co.uk