Volleyball…Beijing 2008

A player sure to have an impact in next years Beijing Olympics, Giba from Brazil, speaks here in an interview with a Russian Newspaper about his move to Iskra in the Russian League.

Giba: I Want to Win Something Big in Russia

Very few athletes today boast a chest as heavily decorated with medals as Brazil’s lanky wing-spiker Giba, the man widely recognized as the best volleyball player on the planet. Giba’s regalia include an Olympic gold medal, two world championship titles, seven South American titles, six World League victories and many other trophies. Moreover, in recent years he’s been regularly scooping up MVP titles in nearly every tournament he has played.

Brazil will be strengthened by the return of one of their stars after a 3 month doping ban.

ROME — Brazil volleyball player Jacqueline Carvalho was suspended for three months Friday by the Italian Olympic Committee after testing positive for a banned stimulant.

However, Carvalho can return to play immediately having already served the sanction, CONI said in a statement.

Anti-doping prosecutors asked Carvalho be banned for nine months following her failed test at a Serie A1 playoff match in June. She had played for Monteschiavo Banca Marche Jesi and came under Italian jurisdiction. Carvalho now plays for Spanish team Murcia.

Heading into Beijing, the Brazilians have received another boost. FIVB reports Ricardo has won the most outstanding player award for the swatch tour.

Lausanne, Switzerland, October 15, 2007 - Led by Brazilian Ricardo Santos, the top men’s players on the 2007 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour were announced here Monday based on the results of the voting by SWATCH representatives, players, coaches, referees and officials associated with the international Beach Volleyball circuit.

 

It’s a tough gig, the Olympics. With only two pairs allowed from each country, there are some mighty fine players who miss out. Pedro Salgado & Harley Marques, and Pedro Cunha & Franco Neto all from Brazil are currently the 4th and 5th ranked pairs in the world respectively. Unfortunately for them the top 2 teams in the world are also from Brazil. So if Olympic qualification was taken now, these teams would miss out. Tough gig being a Brazilian Beach Volleyball player.

Click here for the preliminary calendar for the 2008 World Tour.
Click here for the current Olympic ranking from beach volleyball database.

Ricardinho, long time setter for the Brazilian National Team, was left out of the team at the last minute for the South American Continental Championships. He was replaced by the coaches son, Bernardinho. Fan’s and public showed the anger during games, with posters and banners of support. He has now been included into the squad.

Bernardo Rezende “Bernardinho”, head coach of the Brazilian volleyball team, set conditions on Wednesday for the return of Bermudez Garcia “Ricardinho” to his squad for the 2007 Japan World Cup.