The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) confirms Malaysia as the first country in ASEAN to host the 2017 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour. The double-gender Malaysia Open will take place at Pantai Cenang, Langkawi on Saturday and Sunday, 15 and 16 April 2017. 32 international teams from Austria, Canada, Cuba, Czech Republic, England, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, and Switzerland will compete for the country’s first title and a total cash prize of USD20,000.
“E-Plus is honoured to be the promoter of Malaysia’s first ever sanctioned international beach volleyball tournament. To date, we have organised an array of internationally sanctioned events, and this addition will continue to elevate our company’s capability and profile in executing high-quality global programmes,” said Andrew Ching, Chief Executive Officer of E-Plus Global Sdn Bhd.
FIVB is the global governing body for the Olympic sports of Volleyball. Malaysia will be the second nation to host the World Tour 1-Star (WT1) tournament after Shepparton, Australia. Moving on, FIVB WT1 will take place in Pacific Harbour in Fiji, Agadir in Morocco, Daegu and Ulsan in South Korea for the 2017 calendar.
“Malaysia’s selection as the first host of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour in ASEAN proves our country’s capability in undertaking and executing internationally recognised events. Hosting an Olympics accredited event will transform us into an international sports hub, and this will play a significant role in increasing our country’s tourism economy,” said Tony Nagamaiah, General Manager of Malaysia Major Events, a division of Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), an agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
“Sports events are steady contributors to the country’s tourism economy. It boosts tourism, domestically and internationally. Having well-executed events with mass participation, such as the FIVB, will draw international participation and tourists over to the country. Most of the venues for sport tourism events in Malaysia are located at ideal primary service areas which offer tourists a complete mix of facilities and experience, including excellent hotels, good restaurants, unique venues, cultural heritage and a variety of shopping areas in which Langkawi offers all include magnificent landscapes of pristine beaches and mangrove forests as well as scrumptious local food and happening nightlife for international attendees and visitors to take advantage of,” added Tony.
“Langkawi is blessed with nature’s gift. FIVB has a rigorous sand quality selection process, and we are pleased that FIVB has approved Pantai Cenang’s beach as the venue for the season’s second stop. This result will strengthen our image as a destination with excellent beaches,” said Nor Aznan B. Sulaiman, Tourism Promotion Division Manager of Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), an agency under the Ministry of Finance. He added that “this will directly impact and enhance Langkawi’s tourism economy.”
Langkawi will be the 365th men’s tournament since the FIVB began to play in 1987 and the 317th women’s tournament since their competition started in 1992.
Hanif Basree Abdul Rahman, Deputy President of the Malaysia Volleyball Association (MAVA) expressed his happiness that Malaysia is entrusted by FIVB to host the first ever FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour in ASEAN. “MAVA will activate all key officials to ensure the success of this tournament. We hope that this tournament will continue to inspire more talents and interest towards beach volleyball.”
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The 2017 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour – Malaysia Open is promoted and organised by E-Plus Global Sdn Bhd, sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball and Malaysia Volleyball Association; and supported by Malaysia Major Events, a division of Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (an agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia), Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Majlis Bandaraya Pelancongan Langkawi, Majlis Daerah Langkawi, Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa and Aseania Langkawi Resort & Spa.