Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 26, 2016 – The Rio 2016 Olympic Games are now just 10 days away but the beach volleyball venue on the iconic Copacabana is ready to welcome the world’s top athletes.
The arena officially opened on Monday with Cuban duo Diaz Nivaldo and Sergio Gonzalez Bayard having the honour of being the first team to train on the sand on Tuesday.
Twenty-four teams per gender will all travel to the Games with the aim of writing their names in the history books and claiming a podium place.
FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graça F° visited the competition venue on Monday alongside Rio 2016 competition manager Fernando Marques, venue general manager Guilherme Marques and Marcelo Wrangler from CSV.
“I have no doubt that this will be the most beautiful Arena of the Olympics,” President Graça said. “I’m impressed. It is very important to ensure the best conditions for athletes, officials, TV, press and public. All the training courts are inside the complex.”
President Graça also met Gilbert Felli, a senior Olympic Games advisor from the IOC and congratulated him on a job well done.
“I’d like to congratulate Rio 2016, because I have never seen an infrastructure like this. Volleyball will be a success, a great show that all the cariocas and people deserve.”