The marvelous Mediterranean port of Marseille welcomes the second Grand Slam event of the year between July 13 and 18 as the Swatch – FIVB World Tour continues on through another exciting season. Although there will be no Olympic qualification points on offer at the event, prize money totaling $280,000 and the prestige of being crowned Grand Slam winners will keep all parties interested.

Misty May and Kerri Walsh, who had made a spectacular start to the 2004 Swatch – FIVB World Tour season, will enter this tournament as defending champions having destroyed their opponents on the French sand last year. A near-flawless performance in the 2003 final saw the Americans trounce the stunned Brazilian pair of Ana Paula Connelly and Sandra Pires Tavares 21-10, 21-13.

This will be the 11th consecutive year that Marseille has hosted an FIVB Beach Volleyball event and, as always, the passionate fans will turn out in their thousands to witness some spectacular digging, setting and spiking action.

One of the largest ports in Europe, Marseille is also regarded as France's 'second' city. It is a melting pot of commerce, culture and tourism, and serves as the gateway to Provence and many other provinces southern France.

Marseille is also the oldest city in France, having been founded by the Greeks in 600 BC, and today boasts one of the most diverse and cosmopolitan populations in Europe. Many visit the area for it's natural beauty and spectacular climate, although the Mistral - a strong wind that funnels down the Rhone Valley - can often make itself ever present. Indeed, organisers lost a day of action in the 2002 event to the infamous Mistral.

But there’s no doubting the combination of culture, weather and fantastic Beach Volleyball action combines to make Marseille one of the best stops on the Swatch-FIVB World Tour.

 

2003 Women's Podium:

1. Walsh-May (USA)

2.  Ana Paula-Sandra Pires (BRA)            

3.  Adriana Behar-Shelda (BRA)
 

2002 Women's Podium:

1. McPeak-Youngs (USA)
    Holly McPeak Biography
    Elaine Youngs Biography
2. Walsh-May (USA)
    Kerri Walsh Biography
    Misty May Biography
3. Pottharst-Cook (AUS)
    Kerri-Ann Pottharst Biography /Profile
    Natalie Cook Biography / Profile