Lucerne, Switzerland returns to the world stage of Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) beach volleyball again this year when it hosts the FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championships.

In the first 14 years of the U21 women’s championships, Brazil has been even more dominant with 11 final four placements and 10 total medals including six gold medals. Other countries with women’s gold medals have been Poland and Switzerland with two each and with one each has been Canada, the Netherlands, Russia and the United States.

The age-group FIVB World Championships have historically seen many of the young stars of today building their experience level to advance up the ladder in international competition. This year’s 2016 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour for professional athletes started last October and will end this October and the showcase event on the FIVB calendar will be the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil in August.

The format of all the FIVB Beach Volleyball international tournaments – whether pro or age group FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships, FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam or FIVB Beach Volleyball Open – are the same, featuring pool play followed by single elimination knockout rounds.