The event, which started in September 23, 2010, will offer up to three spots for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. It is broken down into subzone, zone, and continental finals.
As part of the CBVC, the CNMI will host Australia, Guam, and Papua New Guinea in an Oceania Sub Zonal Phase Event set for March 4 to 6, at Pacific Islands Club. Men’s and women’s divisions are available and games start at 9 a.m.
Overall, the CBVC involves 154 nations from five continents. The Continental Cup finals will have 16 teams, with the top three groups from each zonal tournament and the host.
“In the case of the host country being in the top three qualifiers, the fourth ranked country of their zonal tournament will progress. Each country will face off with each other in a five-day tournament with the champion winning a place at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The second and third placed sides will then move onto the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Cup for another chance at qualification,” said the NMIVA.
A total of 24 spots (per gender) will be open for beach volleyball at the 2012 Olympic Games.
“To be eligible to qualify through the Continental Beach Volleyball Cup and/or FIVB Beach Volleyball World Cup, and/or Olympic Trials, athletes must have participated as an individual in at least 12 Continental Beach Volleyball Cup, national and/or continental and/or FIVB events scheduled from June 1, 2010 to June 24, 2012,” noted the NMIVA in its website.
“Spectators are welcome and encouraged to come out to witness this historic event,” said NMIVA’s Laurie Peterka.
For more information, visit www.nmivolleyball.org.
