THEBUSINESSBTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, FEBRUARY 27, 2026

 The temple city Bhubaneswar is set to witness a landmark sporting spectacle as the FIVB Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour (Men & Women) makes its Odisha debut at KIIT University from March 4 to 8, 2026. The prestigious international championship, being organised for the first time on a university campus in India, will bring together 82 teams from 52 countries, comprising 306 accredited players and officials, including Olympic gold medallists.

The tournament will be hosted at the Dutee Chand Athletic Stadium on the KIIT campus, which has been transformed into an international-standard beach volleyball arena. Elaborate arrangements have been put in place to ensure the seamless conduct of the event. Preparations are being overseen under the direct supervision of KIIT and KISS Founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta, who has personally reviewed measures related to player safety, accommodation, training facilities and hospitality.

The announcement of the championship in Bhubaneswar was made by FIVB President Fabio Azevedo during his visit to KIIT and KISS for the Volleyball Grand Prix last December. Impressed by the world-class sports infrastructure at KIIT and the conducive sporting ecosystem of Odisha, Azevedo declared that the FIVB Beach Volleyball event would be organised in the state for three consecutive years — 2026, 2027 and 2028 — in collaboration with KIIT and KISS.

Speaking about the tournament, Dr. Samanta said KIIT and KISS have consistently worked towards the promotion of sports and the nurturing of sportspersons. “Volleyball is both a rural sport and an Olympic discipline. For the past eight years, we have taken continuous steps for its development, encouraging grassroots participation alongside international exposure,” he said.

The championship promises high-octane action with participation from 164 elite athletes forming 82 international teams. Apart from players, international referees and senior FIVB officials will be in attendance, further elevating the global stature of the event. The matches will also be broadcast live worldwide through Volleyball World TV, offering global audiences a glimpse of Odisha’s growing prominence on the international sporting map.

The competition will unfold in multiple stages, beginning with a qualification tournament, followed by the Main Draw featuring pool play. The top teams will advance to the Round of 16, Quarter Finals and Semi Finals. The tournament will culminate on March 8, 2026, with the Bronze Medal matches, Gold Medal finals and the award ceremony.