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 As
the last Swatch-FIVB World Tour event prior to the
Olympic Games in Athens all eyes will be on Klagenfurt
at the end of July. The Austrian Grand Slam is
everyone's favourite stop on the Tour and everybody who
is anybody is determined to be seen there but this year
Klagenfurt will have added importance with teams
desperate to be in top form before heading to Athens.
Despite not being part of the Olympic qualification
process, Klagenfurt is still guaranteed to serve up
another top-class tournament with all the top Beach
Volleyball stars expected to play in front of the
passionate local crowds.
Every year in Austria there are two pristine summer
sporting events, one is the Formula One Grand Prix at
the A-1 Ring and the other is the FIVB Beach Volleyball
World Tour Grand Slam at Klagenfurt. With a party
reputation second to none the Austrian Open has
definitely got the players vote as the top Beach
Volleyball venue and it's not hard to see why.
 Dancing,
chanting, cheers and screams are all synonymous with the
tournament and that's just from the players. Several
days of thrilling, world-class on court action, watched
by sun-baked galleries in a unique festive atmosphere
that never stops. And it's just the perfect ingredients
to draw the crème de la crème of Austrian highlife to
this unique lakeside event. Ask those in the know: If
it's August, it must be Beach Volleyball at Klagenfurt.
Since 1996 this event has grown into one of Austria's
most successful sporting occasions, and this was
recognised by the FIVB in 2001 when it awarded
Klagenfurt the Beach Volleyball World Championships. In
the same year a leading Austrian magazine voted it their
"best event" ahead of the world-renowned downhill ski
race in Kitzbuehel and the Formula One Grand
Prix.
 When
the Swatch – FIVB World Tour last visited Klagenfurt,
Bejamin Insfran and Marcio Henrique Araujo of Brazil
enjoyed a straight sets victory over Stein Metzger and
Kevin Wong from the United States. A capacity centre
court crowd in the Austrian lakeside resort cheered on
vociferously as the Brazilians won in two sets.
When this, the final Grand Slam event of the season
draws to a close, it’s time for the Olympic Games in
Athens.
 2003
Podium:
1. Benjamin Insfran and Marcio Henrique Araujo (BRA)
2. Stein Metzger and Kevin Wong
(USA)
3.
Patrick Heuscher and Stefan Kobel (SUI)
2002 podium:
1. Ricardo-Loiola (BRA)
Biography on
Ricardo Costa Santos and Player Profile on
José Loiola
2. Heyer-Egger (SUI)
Biography on
Sasha Heyer and
Markus Egger
3. Kjemperud-Hoidalen (NOR)
Player Profile on
Jorre Kjemperud and
Vegard Hoidalen
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