Where the Beatles started, Beach Volleyball begins

Hamburg, Germany, June 2, 2016 – In a city where the Beatles got their start in the early 1960s, Beach Volleyball on a world-wide level will be played for the first time in the northern German port city where the planet’s best players will convene here next week for the inaugural Hamburg Major.

The first of five SWATCH Major Series events to be played on the 2015-2016 FIVB World Tour calendar, the US$800,000 Hamburg Major will be the site where dreams are finalized for 30 pairs in their qualifying effort for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as the event is the last stop in the process that started in April 2015 in China.

At a May 3 media conference announcing the event, FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graça F said “with Hamburg joining the Beach Major family, it provides a great opportunity for fans to see the world’s top Beach Volleyball athletes as they get a last chance to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.  I look forward to what promises to be a great event in Germany.”

Two-time German Olympian and Hamburg resident Laura Ludwig said “to play in front of fans for a spot in Rio makes it something very special.”  Ludwig and her partner Kira Walkenhorst have already guaranteed Germany a spot in the Copacabana quadrennial as the pair ranks fourth overall on the Olympic qualifying list behind teams from Brazil and the United States.

Laura Ludwig stretching for Mikasa

The Hamburg Major will be played at the Am Rothenbaum stadium.  The Hamburg Major starts Tuesday (June 7) with qualifying where eight men’s and eight women’s teams will advance to Main Draws where pool play will be featured Wednesday and Thursday.  The women’s semi-finals medal matches will be June 11 …

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