The Hague, Netherlands, June 1, 2015 - With less than four weeks to go until the start of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships the construction of the beach volleyball stadium on the Hofvijver pond in The Hague has started.
In the floating stadium the opening match and the semifinals and finals will be played.
The building of the floating stadium with a 5000 seat capacity has been prepared in detail. “From the moment the idea of this fantastic location as the epicenter of the World Championships sprung to mind, all parties have carefully looked at the feasibility of the idea”, FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships Tournament Director Bas van de Goor said.
“This place has been inspired by the success of beach volleyball during the London 2012 Olympic Games at Horse Guards Parade. The Hofvijver is an equally iconic place in the heart of the city."
This week 622 pontoons will be installed in the Hofvijver. Next week on this floating foundation three quarters of the stadium capacity will be built. Before the stadium will be fully equipped for the World Championships the Hofvijver venue will host the annual Festival Classique. After that 200 m3 of sand will be laid on the pontoons and the stadium will be finished. Nearly 3000 seats are covered.
On June 26 the first matches of the World Championships will be played. Dutch favorites Madelein Meppelink/Marleen van Iersel and Reinder Nummerdor/Christiaan Varenhorst will be playing the opening session on Friday night. The official opening will take place a little earlier in the Royal Theatre in The Hague in attendance of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.