Rimini consists of an extensive sea-beach side and an old heart, the town centre, an open, hospitable and people-friendly city. In the centre, the ancient narrow streets and squares such as Corso d’Augusto, Via Gambalunga, Piazza Cavour, Piazza Tre Martiri and Piazza Ferrari are pedestrian zones and some parts, like the 'old fish market square', are popular meeting places for young people in particular, who have become even more numerous now that Rimini is an important university centre with over 5,000 students. Near the old stone counters where fish was once sold, trendy bars and pubs have opened turning this charming 'little square' into the heart of 'nightlife' in Romagna.

The most important monuments are Tiberius Bridge, the Arch of Augustus and harmonious Pigna fountain that so enchanted Leonardo da Vinci. Important ethnographical, art and photographic exhibitions are held throughout the year in historic palaces such as Palazzo Arengo, in the Municipal Museum, in the Dinz Rialto Museum of Extra-European Cultures (its new premises will open shortly at Villa Alvarado in Covignano di Rimini) and within the ancient walls of Castel Sismondo.

For those who love shopping, Corso d’Augusto and the surrounding area are a must and offer everything from craft shops selling traditional, rust-printed cloth to top boutiques selling famous designer labels. A blue line of sea and 15 kilometres of beach from Torre Pedrera to Miramare - this is the visiting card of the 10 districts of the Municipality of Rimini that overlook the coast.

2005 SWATCH-FIVB WORLD TOUR CHALLENGER/SATELLITE EVENTS

Rimini, one of Italy's most popular international getaways and the host of numerous sporting events each year, stages the fourth of 16 scheduled stops on the men’s SWATCH-FIVB World Tour’s challenger and satellite schedule for 2005.  Prior to the Rimini stop, Roseto degli Abruzzi (July 7-10) will be hosting the second of six Italian challenger and/or challenger events. Other Italian challenger/satellite stops will be in Alba Adriatica (July 22-24, Men & Women), Palinuro (July 29-31, Men & Women) and Vasto (August 5-7, Men & Women).

Teams from Latvia and Germany have captured the gold medals in the first two events with Brazil’s Ian Borges and Pedro Solberg Salgado capturing the bronze medal winners at the Finland and Italy stops.

Finland, Turku (6/17-19, 2005, $10,000)

1.       Martins Plavins/Aleksandrs Samoilous, Latvia, $2,000

2.       Andris Krumins/Ruslas Sorokins, Latvia, $1,500

3.       Ian Borges/Pedro Solberg Salgado, Brazil, $1,200

4.       Leonid Kalinine/Pavel Karpukhin, Russia, $800

Gold Medal - Plavins/Samoilous def. Krumins/Sorokins, 19-21, 21-18, 15-12 (54 minutes)

Bronze Medal - Solberg Salgado/Borges def. Karpukhin/Kalinine, 21-15, 19-21, 15-12 (52)

Itay, Cagliari (7/1-3, 2005, $30,000)

1.       Kay Matysik/Markus Popp, Germany, $4,800

2.       Eugenio Amore/Riccardo Fenili, Italy, $3,900

3.       Ian Borges/Pedro Solberg Salgado, Brazil, $3,000

4.       Daniel Krug/Mischa Urbatzka, Germany, $2,300

Gold Medal - Matysik/Popp Germany def. Amore, 21-17, 21-19 (40)

Bronze Medal - Solberg Salgado/Borges won by forfeit over Krug/Urbatzka

Dates, Tournament, Gender, Gold Medal Team/Purse

February 24-27, Thailand Satellite, Bangkok, Women, Whenhui You/Linjun Ji, China

June 16-19, Finland Satellite, Turku, Men, Martins Plavins/Aleksandrs Samoilous, Latvia

July 1-3, Italy Challenger, Cagliari, , Kay Matysik/Markus Popp, Germany

July 7-10, Italy Challenger, Roseto degli Abruzzi, Men, $30,000

July 15-17, Italy Challenger, Rimini, Men, $30,000

July 20-24, Morocco Satellite, Casablanca, Men, $15,000

July 22-24, France Satellite, St. Jean de Monts, Men & Women, $20,000

July 22-24, Italy Satellite, Alba Adriatica, Men & Women, $20,000

July 27-31, Ukraine Challenger, Kiev, Men, $30,000

July 29-31, Italy Satellite, Palinuro, Men & Women, $20,000

July 29-31, Korea Challenger, Seoul, Women, $50,000

August 5-7, Italy Satellite, Vasto, Men & Women, $20,000

August 10-14, Switzerland Satellite, Lausanne, Men & Women, $30,000

August 18-21, Liechtenstein Satellite, Vaduz, Men & Women, $20,000

August 19-21, France Satellite, Le Lavandou, Men & Women, $20,000

August 31-September 4, Holland Satellite, Vaals, Netherlands, Men & Women, $20,000

October 13-16, Argentina Satellite, Buenos Aires, Men & Women, $20,000

November 10-13, Cuba Satellite, Varadero, Women, $10,000

November 17-20, Cuba Satellite, Varadero, Men, $10,000

*Event still be confirmed

Challenger Events - The top 24 men's teams and 16 women's teams in the FIVB World Ranking (as per the standings 30 days before the start of the competition) are not allowed to take part in Challenger events.  Exceptions will be made for host country players as well as for 2 wild cards.

Satellite Events - The top 48 men's teams and 32 women's teams in the FIVB World Ranking (as per the standings 30 days before the start of the competition) are not allowed to take part in Satellite events.  Exceptions will be made for host country players as well as for 2 wild cards.

Challenger & Satellite Events Generalities – Players, who enter in both a Challenger/Satellite and World Tour event to be played on the same dates will not be sanctioned for not participating in the Challenger and Satellite events in case qualification to the main draw of the clashing World Tour event arises.  In order to enter teams in Challenger and/or Satellite events, players must contact their respective National Volleyball Federation for further instructions as the entry system has changed from 2004.