World Grand Prix
Full article from FIVB
Lausanne, June 16, 2008 – The 2008 edition of the FIVB World Grand Prix, the premier annual Women’s competition featuring the world’s best players, begins this weekend with Preliminary Round matches through June 20-22 in Japan, China and Italy.
Two-time winners USA, hosts Japan, Turkey and Kazakhstan will play against each other at the Green Arena in Kobe in Pool A.
Six-time winners Brazil, hosts China, the 2003 champions, Thailand and Germany come together in Pool B in Ningbo at the Beilun Sports Centre, the scene of last year’s Final Round.
In Pool C at the Palaravizza Hall in Alassio, hosts Italy, two-time winners Cuba, Poland and Dominican Republic will face each other.
The 2008 edition involves the teams playing a total of 69 matches over four consecutive weekends in 10 cities. The Preliminary Rounds end the weekend of July 4-6, with each team playing nine matches over the first three weekends.
The other Preliminary Rounds take place in Vinh Phuc, Vietnam, Wroclaw, Poland, and Hong Kong on the second weekend and Bangkok, Thailand, Taipei, Chinese Taipei, and Macau the third.
The Final Round in Yokohama will be contested between Japan as organizing country and the best five teams from the Preliminary Rounds in a round-robin format through July 9-13.
In 2007, the Netherlands won their first major trophy in FIVB competitions with a perfect record in the Final Round, becoming the sixth team to win the renowned title and snapping Brazil’s run of three straight triumphs. They did not qualify for the 2008 edition.
July 4th, 2008 at 5:20 am
that was a great tournament, I can’t wait for the Olympics.