The Hague, the Netherlands, June 26, 2015 – The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships 2015 in the Netherlands was opened on Friday in presence of King Willem-Alexander. This happened during the official opening ceremony in the Royal Theatre in The Hague.
The ceremony featured videos featuring the four host cities; The Hague, Amsterdam, Apeldoorn and Rotterdam and the beautiful venues. Dance, film and music preceded the opening of the tournament.
The performances all unfolded in the presence of mayor Jozias van Aartsen (The Hague), Ahmed Aboutaleb (Rotterdam), John Berends (Apeldoorn), and deputy-mayor Eric van der Burg from Amsterdam and Edith Schippers, Dutch Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport.
FIVB President Ary Graça discussed the good collaboration ahead of the tournament, and a video was shown of Tournament Director Bas van de Goor picking up the match ball at the headquarters of the FIVB in Lausanne.
King Willem-Alexander symbolically handed over the first match ball at the end of the ceremony to the volunteers, who transferred the ball by playing volleyball via The Hague Beachplein to the in the Hofvijfer floating stadium.
After the official opening Michel Everaert, director of sports for the Dutch Volleyball Federation (Nevobo), was appointed by Minister Schippers to Knight in The Order of Orange-Nassau for his services to the sport volleyball.