Double gender in Montréal

Montréal 2006 - The SWATCH-FIVB World Tour returns to the French-speaking city for the first of two double gender events in 2006 on the North American continent (Mexico in October).  Organized by Volleyball Canada, the event will be held at the Uniprix Stadium for the second-straight season.  With extensive facilities, Uniprix Stadium also stages major tennis tournaments.  Canada is not new to hosting major international Beach Volleyball events as the country hosted the 1999 Pan-American Games in Winnipeg along with a series of three SWATCH-FIVB World tour stops in Toronto (1998-2000).  Montréal’s 360 years of history have left an indelible mark on the vibrant character of the city in Quebec province.  It’s been in turn a French settlement, a British stronghold, and today, the world’s second-largest French-speaking city.  Over the years, European flair has blended with North American savoir-faire to create the story of Montréal: a rich tradition, a mosaic of cultures, and a fierce passion for the future.

Men - South American tandems have won the previous five SWATCH-FIVB World Tour stops in Canada starting with Martin Conde and Eduardo Martinez’s 1998 crown in Toronto.  Jose Loiola and Emanuel Rego captured the 1999 and 2000 Toronto gold medals to start Brazil’s run of four-straight titles.  Canada’s best finish was a second in the 2000 Toronto event by Olympians John Child and Mark Heese.

2005 Brazilian podium (left to right) - Marcio Araujo, Fabio, Benjamin, Harley, Emanuel and Ricardo

PAST CANADA MEN’S PODIUM PLACEMENTS

Total Medals - Brazil 10, Canada 3, USA 2, Argentina 1, Australia 1, Spain 1

*PanAm Games

Women - Montréal hosts the first of two SWATCH-FIVB World Tour events in North America.  The 2005 final featured Brazil’s hopes for future SWATCH medals as Juliana Feilsberta Silva and Larissa Franca defeated Renata Riberio and Talita Antunes in the finals.  Canada has also hosted “open” women’s events in Toronto and the 1999 Pan-American Games in Winnipeg where Adriana and Shelda captured the title.  Toronto winners were Sandra Pires/Adriana Samuel of Brazil (1998), Holly McPeak/Nancy Reno of the United States (1999) and Adriana/Shelda (2000).  Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede captured the PanAm title.  The best finish by a host country team in the previous five SWATCH stops in Canada was a seventh by Marie-Andree Lessard and Sarah Maxwell in 2005.

Montréal 2006 podium (left to right) - Talita, Renata, Larissa, Juliana, Shelda, Adriana