 From the introduction of volleyball in Brazil until the elevation of the event to Olympic, Koch Tavares has been right there. Koch Tavares achieved the realization of Hollywood Volley both nationally and internationally and organized the 1st World Championship. Created the World Tour (Beach Volleyball World Circuit). Presented the concept of temporary arenas. Supervised the staging of the World Tour in various countries. Served as the host, in conjunction with the CBV, of the presidents of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and of the Organizing Committee of the Atlanta Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, contributing decisively to the inclusion of beach volleyball as an Olympic sport in the ‘96 Olympics in Atlanta.
 1985
It was February 2, 1985. More than five thousand people amassed in the area of Enseada Beach in Guarujá (Sao Paulo). They were awaiting the entrances of Montanaro, Renan, Bada, William, Isabel, Jacqueline, Vera Mossa and Regina Uchoa. The next week, even larger success awaited the athletes in Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro.
1986
February – Santos (SP) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - The 2nd Hollywood Volley became a major competition for beach volleyball in Latin America and permitted, for the first time, beach competition between the North American and Brazilian players who faced off on the courts at the ’84 Olympics in Los Angeles, namely: Pat Powers, Sinjin Smith, Montanaro, Renan, William and Bada. The women also marked their presence in the competition with the Americans, among those present were Nina Matthies and Linda Robertson who played against Regina Uchoa and Roseli.
March - Paris (FRA): Meeting between Koch Tavares and the presidents of the Brazilian Volley-ball Confederation (CBV) and the International Beach Volley-ball Federation (FIVB) to consolidate and create the 1st Beach Volleyball World Championship.
September - Prague (CZE): Presentation of the concept and pre-project initiatives for the implementation of beach volleyball tournaments to the President and Technical Director of the FIVB during its conference.
1987-88
Luis Felipe Tavares and Fernando von Oertzen (President and then Marketing Director of Koch Tavares) create the logo and the manual guidelines for Beach Volleyball World Championship and register them in the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro – Centro de Letras e Artes (Center of Literature and Arts).
With the success of the two previous Hollywood Volley and the commitment of the CBV, in conjunction with the FIVB, Rio de Janeiro entered beach volleyball history as the site of the first World Championship in 1987. With the participation of 20 teams from 7 countries the event distributed US$50 thousand in prizes and its champions were the Americans Smith/Stoklos who came to be known as the “Reis do Rio” (Kings of Rio) as they later went on to win again in 89-92. Brazil was also present on the podium being represented by the team of Renan/Montanaro who finished in 3rd place.
The next year, 24 teams from 10 countries returned to Ipanema Beach to compete in the second World Championship. This time with Brazilian beach volleyball more evolved, Brazil and the United States faced off in the final match and in the bout for 3rd place. More than 10 thousand people watched the final event in the central arena that featured Powers/Kiraly representing the USA and Bernard/Luis Américo representing Brazil with victory ultimately going to the Americans. Renan and Montanaro once again returned to the podium with a 3rd place victory.
Creation of the concept for international beach volleyball circuit: World Tour.
1989
Creation of the Beach Volleyball World Council by the FIVB with the participation of Luis Felipe Tavares, Fernando von Oertzen and Fulvio Danilas, of Koch Tavares, who were responsible for the implementation and operational/technical/merchandising management of the World Tour.
Development of the concept of temporary arenas with Nüssli-Construvit and the presentation of the project during the first meeting of the Council.
Presentation of the project "Olympic Year Championship" which took place in Almeria (Spain) in 1992, right after the Barcelona Olympics.
Realization, under the supervision of the World Council, of the staging of the World Tour in Italy and Japan, outside of Brazil, which closed out the season.
1990-92
Koch Tavares is named the marketing agency for beach volleyball by the FIVB and prepares the manual guidelines and organizes two events of the World Tour.
France holds a leg for the World Tour - the first win for a Brazilian team: André/Guilherme.
In 91, Australia and Spain make their debut as host countries of the World Tour. During this year there were 6 legs and the Brazilians André and Guilherme marked their presence in each of them.
In the same year, FIVB was presented the first version of what would become the official rule book for Beach Volleyball by Koch Tavares.
The Project Olympic Year CHAMPIONSHIP took place in the city of Almeria right after the closing of the ‘92 Olympic Games in Barcelona but there was a difference: the participation of women with 10 teams from 6 countries. The Americans Kirby/Reno won the title of the competition with their compatriots Carrillo/Rock finishing in second. The Brazilians Rose/Roseli won third. In men’s competition the big winners were also Brazil and the United States: Smith/Stoklos were the champions, Moreira/Garrido (BRA) finished second, and André/Guilherme finished third.
1993-95
The former president of the IOC, S.E.M. Juan Antonio Samaranch; the former President of the FIVB, Dr. Rubén Acosta H.; the former President of FIFA, Mr. João Havelange; and the President of the Oraganizing Committe of the Olympic Games of Atlanta, Mr. William Payne, were in Rio de Janeiro in 1993 to witness the realization of the VII BV World Championship. Luis Felipe Tavares, president of Koch Tavares, and Dr. Carlos Arthur Nuzman, then president of CBV, were their hosts.
The end of this same year in Santos (SP) a leg of what would become Women’s World Tour was held.
1994 was an important year for beach volleyball on the world scene...
The authorities of the IOC, FIVB and the Olympic Committee of Atlanta approved the inclusion of beach volleyball as a competition in the Olympic Games of 1996.
Still in the same year was the first time beach volleyball was part of the Goodwill Games: in St. Petersburg, of the former USSR, whose champions were the Norwegians Kvalheim/Maaseide and the Americans Kirby/Masakayan.
The Men’s World Tour had seven stages while the Women’s World Tour, in its second go-round had 6.
... and also very important for national beach volleyball
Brazil won its first Women's title: the eternal muse of volleyball, Isabel, and her partner Roseli were the champions of the United States’ competition.
It was also in this year that Brazilian teams, men’s and women’s, won at home for the first time much to the delight of the thousands of fans who filled the arenas: Franco/Roberto Lopes, in Rio de Janeiro, and Mônica/Adriana, in Santos. Franco and Roberto/Lopes were still champions of the BV World Tour in the 93-94 season while Mônica and Adriana took home the title from 94-95.
In 1995, as part of the qualification round for the Olympics, beach volleyball was delivered to five continents with 16 legs of the Men’s World Tour and 9 on the Women’s.
1996 – Atlanta Olympic Games
Beach volleyball made its debut in the Olympics and Brazil had four teams to represent the country: Franco/Roberto Lopes; Zé Marco/Emanuel; Jacqueline/ Sandra Pires and Mônica/Adriana.
Male Brazilians didn’t do well and only made it to the semifinal round. The women however, fared very well and progressed to the first ever final round of the newly inducted Olympic sport. Jacqueline/ Sandra Pires entered history as the first female Brazilian athletes to earn a medal in the Olympic Games: the gold.
From 1997 to today
In 1997, the World Championship for men and women began to commence every two years.
The sport is among the top in media attention during the Olympic Games of 2000 and 2004.
Today, we have been rewarded by watching Brazilian beach volleyball elevate to a level where it has won the most number of international titles, attracting more and more new competitors both professional and admirers; becoming a public success both inside and outside of Brazil.
Shelda/Adriana Behar is the most successful woman’s team in the history of beach volleyball worldwide: six-time champion of the World Tour; 2-time world champion; champion of the Goodwill Games; and silver medal winners at the Sydney and Athens Olympics.
The Brazilian Emanuel has also become part of the history of the sport: his 6 titles on the World Tour, two with Zé Marco, one with Loiola, another with Tande and two with Ricardo, the partner with whom he won the gold medal at the Athens Olympic Games. He is also a two-time world champion along with Loiola and Ricardo.
So far, Brazil continues to be the largest organizer of the World Tour. |
