Men's Paris 2005

2005 Informational Kit

PARIS 2005 – The “fourth-time was a charm” as the FIVB and promoter MCO finally secured a SWATCH-FIVB World Tour stop for Paris.  The event will be held at the ‘Champ de Mars’ in a stadium of nearly 6,000 seats.  MCO, the promoter for the past 11 seasons of a SWATCH-FIVB World Tour event in Marseille, has moved France’s Beach Volleyball stop to Paris where international events are organized and staged every year in the Ile-de-France Region.  Equipped with modern, efficient sports infrastructures meeting the requirements of International Federations, Paris has gradually built up recognized know-how in the field of organization.  This experience is an important strength in view of the wide range of Olympic and Paralympic events as Paris bids with London, Madrid, Moscow and New York for the 2012 Olympic Games.  This success is due to the passion of French people for sport, the great potential for the mobilization of volunteers around the sports movement and the availability of qualified professionals.  Over the last ten years, Paris has successfully hosted the 2003 European Youth Olympic Festival, 2003 IAAF Track and Field World Championships, the FIBA European Nations Basketball Championships, the Tour de France that concludes every year on the Champs-Elysées, the 1998 FIFA Soccer World Cup, the 2000 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships, the 2001 IHF World Handball Championships, the IJF World Judo Championships, tennis’ French Open every year in since 1928, at Roland Garros stadium, and the 2003 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships.

Women – For the first time, a city in France other than Marseille will host an “open” women’s SWATCH-FIVB World Tour event.  A finalist for the host site of the 2012 Olympics, Paris will stage an international beach volleyball event for the first time.  Marseille hosted the women the last eight seasons, including the 1999 FIVB World Championships where Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede captured the title.  After women’s teams from Brazil (Adriana/Shelda, 1997 and 1999, and Sandra Pires/Adriana Samuel, 1998), five different tandems from the United States captured the Marseille gold medal (Annett Davis/Jenny Johnson Jordan, 2000, Barbara Fontana/Elaine Youngs, 2001, Holly McPeak/Youngs, 2002, Misty May/Kerri Walsh, 2003 and Walsh/Rachel Wacholder, 2004).  Ethel-Julie Arjona and Virginie Kadjo posted ninths (2003 and 2004) for the best finishes by a French team in Marseille.  France has also hosted three FIVB challenge events the past two seasons in Lavandou and Porticcio.  Pic (left to right):  2004 Marseille gold medallists - Benjamin, Wacholder, Walsh and Marcio Araujo.

Men – After competing the last 11 seasons in Marseille, the men’s SWATCH-FIVB World Tour moves north to play in Paris, which is bidding against London, Madrid, Moscow and New York for the 2012 Olympic Games.  Marseille has hosted more men’s FIVB events than any other European city and ranks only behind Rio de Janeiro (14).  Jan Kvalheim and Bjorn Maaseide of Norway won the first Marseille event when they defeated Christian Penigaud and Jean-Philippe Jodard of France in the finals.  South American tandems won the next 10, including nine by teams from Brazil.  Mariano Baracetti and Martin Conde of Argentina (2001) broke the Brazilian streak.  Marseille gold medallists from Brazil were Emanuel Rego/Ze Marco de Melo (1995), Franco Neto/Roberto Lopes (1996), Guilherme Marques/Para Ferreira (1997), Ze Marco/Ricardo Santos (1998), Jose Loiola/Emanuel (1999 FIVB World Championships), Ze Marco/Ricardo (2000), Loiola/Ricardo (2002), Emanuel/Ricardo (2003) and Marcio Araujo/Benjamin Insfran (2004).