FIVB World Tour Women's Beach Volleyball Event in China Relocated

Home>>Sports

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, July 07, 2003

FIVB World Tour Women's Beach Volleyball Event in China Relocated

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has changed the venue for the SWATCH-FIVB Women's Open in China to the eastern coastal city of Lianyungang, near Shanghai, which has been cleared by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The August 13-17 event in Lianyunggang, north of Shanghai in anarea that has suffered only seven cases of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and has been cleared by WHO.

WHO has now lifted all their travel restriction advice for all countries affected by the SARS epidemic, according to Annie Peytavin, head of the FIVB Medical Commission.

"This is a good solution for us as it is very important to save the tournament," said FIVB Beach Volleyball Coordinator, Angelo Squeo, acknowledging the help of the China Volleyball Assocation and the event's promoters for their support in finding a solution to the problem.

Squeo said that although it was obviously a disadvantage for the organizers to have to move the event, the health and safety ofthe players was paramount. "With this move we have acknowledged the players' concern and acted to find a suitable and safer solution. We hope that they will now respond by supporting the tournament, which is very important in the global context of our sport," Squeo added.

The move follows a meeting with women players at last week's Gstaad Open in Switzerland, where they expressed concern about traveling to the original location. An inspection of the new proposed venue will be made by FIVB officials July 11-14 and players will be able to fly from the event in Osaka, Japan to Beijing and/or Shanghai with connecting flights to be arranged to the city of Lianyungang.

Questions?Comments? Click here

China Takes Women's Beach Volleyball Gold

Tripod Set Up in Deng's Hometown to Commemorate Anniversary of His Birth ( 3 Messages)

Chinese Regard Haphazard Spitting as most Disgusting Habit ( 3 Messages)

Chinese Mainland, HK Vows to Forge Closer Economic Ties ( 3 Messages)

Hu Jintao Addresses Symposium on "Three Represents" ( 3 Messages)

BBC, Downing Street Dispute over Weapon Dossier ( 3 Messages)