FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix

Last updated
FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix
FIVB WGP logo.png
Sport Volleyball
Founded1993
Ceased2017
Replaced by Nations League
Challenger Cup
No. of teams12 in Group 1
12 in Group 2
8 in Group 3
ContinentInternational (FIVB)
Last
champion(s)
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil (12th title)
Most titlesFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil (12 titles)

The FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix was an annual women's volleyball competition created in 1993. The men's version of the competition was called World League. This event should not be confused with the other international volleyball competitions, the World Championship, the World Cup and the World Grand Champions Cup.

Contents

From 2018, the World Grand Prix was replaced by the FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League and Challenger Cup. [1] [2]

History

Origins

Old FIVB World Grand Prix logo VolleyballGrandPrixLogo.png
Old FIVB World Grand Prix logo

World Grand Prix was created in 1993 as part of the FIVB's marketing strategy to promote the sport of volleyball by establishing annual international competitions. It was modelled after the World League, a successful event for men that had been introduced three years before.

The Grand Prix made women's volleyball very popular in East Asia. As of 2004, the competition was maintained mainly with the support of Asian investors. The early competitions and the finals were usually held in East Asia, because the volleyball market in East Asia is large and has a large audience (such as Hong Kong). Later, some competitions were held in Europe and the United States, for example, the 2003 finals was held for the first time in Italy, and 2015 finals was held in the United States.

The budget for prize money grew steadily since 1993, but at a rather slow pace. The figures have reached $1.295 million in 2004 - meager when compared to the World League's $13 million.

Although the status of the Grand Prix was less than the other three international competitions, the prize money and popularity was far better. Because it is purely commercial competition, the winner of the Grand Prix championship is generally not considered a world champion. But the Grand Prix has created stars for female volleyball players, and thus contributed to the promotion of the sport of female volleyball in the world.

The predominance of Asian sponsors determined the first major break with the World League's formula. Most of the cities that host preliminary round matches are located in Asia. A host country may or may not have a national volleyball team involved in the competition. A second break was introduced in later years: in some continents, teams must qualify to participate in the competition.

Winners

The history of Grand Prix's previous winners is a clear indication of how women's volleyball has been dominated, since the early 1990s, by four teams: Cuba, Brazil, Russia and China. Along with five-times winner USA, they are the only ones to hold a title at this competition as of 2005.

In 1993, the Cubans padded their already impressive record of a gold medal in the 1992 Olympic Games by winning the first edition of the Grand Prix. They were also running for the gold in 1994, but were defeated by an underranked Brazil: at that time, the Brazilians had never been able to catch a single medal in any major women's volleyball competition.

In the following years, Brazil proved beyond any doubt that their time as underdogs was over. It lost the finals in 1995 to USA, but came back in 1996 for a second Grand Prix title, winning all the matches that made up the Final Four round in five sets.

The Brazilians withdrew from the competition in 1997, and the winners were Russia. But they were back in 1998 for another gold. Russia took revenge in 1999, and defeated Brazil in straight sets to win their second Grand Prix title.

Russia's win in 2002 made them, like Brazil, three-time winners. But the South Americans untied the score by conquering the 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009, and, afterwards, also 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017 editions of the tournament. The winners in 2000, 2001 and 2003 were Cuba, USA and China, respectively. Netherlands won their first trophy in 2007. USA won four gold medals in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015.

Competition formula

The Grand Prix's competition formula has proved less stable than the World League's. In the following years, major changes are likely to be introduced in an attempt to make women's volleyball more attractive to the audience. Some of the rules that are still in practice as of 2004 are:

Hosts

List of hosts by number of final round championships hosted.

Times hostedHostsYear(s)
8Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2017
6Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1997, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014
3Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 1993, 1998, 2002
3Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 2003, 2004, 2006
2Flag of Macau.svg  Macau 2001, 2011
1Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 2000
1Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2015
1Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 2016

Appearance

China and Japan are the only teams that participated in all editions of the World Grand Prix.

TeamIntercontinental RoundFinal Round [N 1]
App.FirstLastApp.FirstLast
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 25 1993 2017 24 1993 2017
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 25 1993 2017 13 1993 2015
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 24 1993 2017 23 1993 2017
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 24 1993 2017 12 1995 2017
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 22 1993 2016 13 1993 2012
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 21 1993 2017 16 1993 2016
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 19 1994 2017 12 1999 2017
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 18 1993 2017 4 1993 2003
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 18 1993 2017 4 2001 2009
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 15 2002 2017 3 2011 2016
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 14 1994 2017 6 2003 2017
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 14 2004 2017 2 2007 2010
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic 14 2004 2017
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 8 2007 2017
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico 8 2009 2017
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 7 2011 2017 3 2011 2017
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 7 2008 2017 2 2012 2014
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 7 2011 2017
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru 6 1994 2017
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 5 2003 2017
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 5 2013 2017
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 5 2013 2017
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 5 2013 2017
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 4 2014 2017 1 2014 2014
Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 4 1994 2012
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 4 2014 2017
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 4 2014 2017
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 4 2014 2017
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 3 2014 2016
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 3 2015 2017
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan 1 2006 2006
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 1 2017 2017
Flag of France.svg  France 1 2017 2017
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 1 2017 2017
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 1 2017 2017
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela 1 2017 2017
  Team last allocated in Group 1
  Team last allocated in Group 2
  Team last allocated in Group 3
  Team was inactive in the last World Grand Prix

Results summary

YearFinals hostsFinal3rd place matchTeams
IR / FR
ChampionsScoreRunners-up3rd placeScore4th place
1993 Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg
Hong Kong
Flag of Cuba.svg
Cuba
3–0Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
Flag of Russia (1991-1993).svg
Russia
3–1Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
8 / 6
1994 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
Shanghai
Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
Round-robin Flag of Cuba.svg
Cuba
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
Round-robin Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg
Japan
12 / 4
1995 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
Shanghai
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Round-robin Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
Flag of Cuba.svg
Cuba
Round-robin Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
8 / 4
1996 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
Shanghai
Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
Round-robin Flag of Cuba.svg
Cuba
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
Round-robin Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
8 / 4
1997 Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg
Kobe
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
Round-robin Flag of Cuba.svg
Cuba
Flag of South Korea.svg
South Korea
Round-robin Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg
Japan
8 / 4
1998 Flag of Hong Kong.svg
Hong Kong
Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
3–0Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
Flag of Cuba.svg
Cuba
3–1Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
8 / 4
1999 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
Yuxi
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
3–0Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
3–1Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
8 / 4
2000 Flag of the Philippines.svg
Pasig
Flag of Cuba.svg
Cuba
3–1Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
3–1Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
8 / 4
2001 Flag of Macau.svg
Macau
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
3–1Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
3–0Flag of Cuba.svg
Cuba
8 / 8
2002 Flag of Hong Kong.svg
Hong Kong
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
3–1Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
3–1Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
8 / 4
2003 Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg
Andria
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
Round-robin Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Round-robin Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
12 / 6
2004 Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg
Reggio Calabria
Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
3–1Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg
Italy
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
3–0Flag of Cuba.svg
Cuba
12 / 6
2005 Flag of Japan.svg
Sendai
Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
Round-robin Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg
Italy
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
Round-robin Flag of Cuba.svg
Cuba
12 / 6
2006 Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg
Reggio Calabria
Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
3–1Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg
Italy
3–2Flag of Cuba.svg
Cuba
12 / 6
2007 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
Ningbo
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Round-robin Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Round-robin Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
12 / 6
2008 Flag of Japan.svg
Yokohama
Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
Round-robin Flag of Cuba.svg
Cuba
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Round-robin Flag of the United States.svg
United States
12 / 6
2009 Flag of Japan.svg
Tokyo
Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
Round-robin Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
Round-robin Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
12 / 6
2010 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
Ningbo
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Round-robin Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Round-robin Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
12 / 6
2011 Flag of Macau.svg
Macau
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
3–0Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
Flag of Serbia.svg
Serbia
3–0Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
16 / 8
2012 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
Ningbo
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Round-robin Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
Flag of Turkey.svg
Turkey
Round-robin Flag of Thailand.svg
Thailand
16 / 6
2013 Flag of Japan.svg
Sapporo
Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
Round-robin Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
Flag of Serbia.svg
Serbia
Round-robin Flag of Japan.svg
Japan
20 / 6
2014 Flag of Japan.svg
Tokyo
Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
Round-robin Flag of Japan.svg
Japan
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
Round-robin Flag of Turkey.svg
Turkey
28 / 6
2015 Flag of the United States.svg
Omaha
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Round-robin Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
Round-robin Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
28 / 6
2016 Flag of Thailand.svg
Bangkok
Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
3–2Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
3–2Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
28 / 6
2017 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
Nanjing
Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
3–2Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of Serbia.svg
Serbia
3–1Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
32 / 6

Medals summary

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 125219
2Flag of the United States.svg  United States 6129
3Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 36413
4Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 2428
5Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 1539
6Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1012
7Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 0347
8Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 0101
9Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 0033
10Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 0022
11Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 0011
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 0011
Totals (12 entries)25252575

Most valuable player by edition

See also

Notes

  1. Since Group system was introduced in 2014, statistics of only Group 1 Final Round are included, as this is the medal round.

References

  1. FIVB drastically changes format for 2018 World League and Grand Prix - World of Volley, 19 June 2017
  2. FIVB announces the Volleyball Nations League
  3. "Volley Gran Prix 2013 al via: formula e calendario Italia". 3 August 2013.