FIVB and AVP Reach Historical Agreement
AVP
9/19/2002

The Fèdèration Internationale de Volleyball and the Association of
Volleyball Professionals have reached an agreement with the AVP promoting a
series of "major" FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour events in the U.S.
including a World Tour "Grand Slam" event in 2003, followed by two "Grand
Slam" events in 2004, FIVB officials announced.

The AVP also is promoting the 2005 Beach Volleyball World Championships in
the U.S., which will be the sport's richest event ever with at least
$800,000 prize money.

"This is a landmark agreement involving unprecedented cooperation between
FIVB and AVP by bringing major Olympic qualifying events to the U.S. in 2003
and 2004 as well as the World Championships in 2005," FIVB president Dr.
Rubén Acosta said.

Leonard Armato, AVP president and commissioner said he looks forward to
staging top class tournaments that pay tribute to what has become the
fastest growing summer sport.

"This agreement between FIVB and AVP connects our expanding AVP Tour with
the new world order in beach volleyball,” Armato said. “Not only will we
coordinate a global calendar between the AVP Tour and the FIVB World Tour,
but AVP will promote a series of Grand Slam Olympic qualifying events in the
U.S.A. leading up to the 2004 Olympic Games and following the Olympics. In
2005, the AVP will bring the World Championships back to Los Angeles where
it was last held in 1997."
 
With this agreement, the AVP recognizes the FIVB as the international
governing body for volleyball and beach volleyball and the FIVB has
recognized the AVP as the official tour in America.

Both organizations agree that AVP players in good standing are eligible to
participate in events of either tour under an orderly system designed to
support both the AVP Tour and FIVB World Tour.

The FIVB and AVP Tours remain "open tours" and both organizations have
pledged to respect each other's activities and to work together to avoid
clashes of main events on their calendars.

They will also cooperate to try to enhance television exposure in the U.S.
The FIVB and Armato are discussing the possibility of staging additional
events in the U.S., such as charity events, Junior World Championships and
others.

"Beach volleyball has come of age and is enjoying a boom in popularity in
many countries,” FIVB Beach Volleyball Coordinator Angelo Squeo said. “We
look forward to working closely with the AVP to promote major events in the
U.S.A.".

Squeo said the agreement opens tremendous opportunities for athletes,
sponsors, media and broadcasters.

Beach volleyball was born on the beaches of California in the late 1920's
and has been a full Olympic discipline since 1996.