THE THIRD Phuket Thailand Open volleyball tournament was due to begin at 3pm on Wednesday afternoon, after a delayed start.
Competitors will be chasing a share of prizemoney of $175,000 on the middle of the beach at Karon. And the weather could not be better.
Temporary grandstands can cater for hundreds of spectators and admission is free. There should be action on several courts at once.
Two US teams, including the wonderfully named Ross and Boss team, fill the favorite pairings, with Brazil in positions three and four. As host country, Thailand has three teams.
Officials said 20 countries will have representatives in the main draw: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, Georgie, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and the US.
Some of the world's top players have been attracted to the Phuket event. The tournament is sanctioned by the Fedferation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) and the Volleyball Association of Thailand. (TVA).
Matches were postponed on Wednesday but the schedule for Thursday onwards is expected to involve matches beginning at 9am, except on the finals day, Sunday, when the matches start at 3pm.
From the semi-finals on Saturday, play will be telecast live on NBT and the Sports Channel in Thailand and on Eurosport in the US.
Competitors will be chasing a share of prizemoney of $175,000 on the middle of the beach at Karon. And the weather could not be better.
Temporary grandstands can cater for hundreds of spectators and admission is free. There should be action on several courts at once.
Two US teams, including the wonderfully named Ross and Boss team, fill the favorite pairings, with Brazil in positions three and four. As host country, Thailand has three teams.
Officials said 20 countries will have representatives in the main draw: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, Georgie, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and the US.
Some of the world's top players have been attracted to the Phuket event. The tournament is sanctioned by the Fedferation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) and the Volleyball Association of Thailand. (TVA).
Matches were postponed on Wednesday but the schedule for Thursday onwards is expected to involve matches beginning at 9am, except on the finals day, Sunday, when the matches start at 3pm.
From the semi-finals on Saturday, play will be telecast live on NBT and the Sports Channel in Thailand and on Eurosport in the US.
