Beijing, China, December 10, 2008 – AVC sports Event Council has finalized the competition schedule for 2009 in the meeting held here on December 9 Tuesday.

The events to be held in AVC areas include three categories: 1. AVC events, 2. 2010 FIVB Men's and Women's World Championship three preliminary rounds, 3. Other FIVB major events.

In the year of 2009, there are only four AVC sanctioned major events: They are the Asian Women’s Club Championship which is to be held from June 1 to 8 in Nakhonpathom of Thailand, and the 2009 Asian Men's Club Championship which is to be held from June 17 to 24 in Al-min of UAE. These two events also double as the Qualification Tournament for the 2009 World Club Championships if FIVB approves.

Vietnam is to host the 15th Asian Women's Senior Volleyball Championship from September 5 to 13 in Hanoi which is also the Asian qualification tournament for the 2009 World Grand Champion Cup in Japan and 2010 World Grand Prix. The 15th Asian Men's Senior Volleyball Championship is going to take place in Manlia of the Philippines from September 18 to 27, which also doubles as the qualification tournament for the 2009 Grand Champion Cup in Japan.

The other Asian events in 2009 include 21st Asian Men's Pacific Cup in Japan on June, 6th VTV Cup Women’s Volleyball invitation in July in Vietnam, the 5th Sting Cup Men's Volleyball Invitation in November in Vietnam and the 25th SEA Games Volleyball Tournament in Vietnam and Loas from December 8 to 18.

The AVC Men's and Women's three rounds playoff tournament of the 2010 FIVB Men's and Women's World Championships is to be held from January to August of 2009. The Women's teams from China and Korea will join the third round with six winners emerged from the previous rounds in two pools to vie for the three tickets to the 2010 World Championship in Japan. Australia, China, Japan and Korea will join the other four teams from the second round to fight for the four berths of the 2010 World Volleyball Championship in Italy.

Besides, China, Japan, Korea and Thailand are to take part in the 2009 Grand Prix. China's Ningbo city is to host Group C competition from July 31 to August 2. Miao Li of Chinese Taipei, Macau and Japan's Osaka are to organize Group D, E and F competition respectively from August 7 to 9. The contest of Group G, H and I will be in Hong Kong, Korea and Bangkok of Thailand from August 14 to 16. The final round of the Grand Prix is to be held in Tokyo of Japan from August 19 to 23.

China, Japan and Korea will take part in the 2009 World League. China is in Pool A with USA, Italy and the Netherlands, Korea will compete with Serbia, France and Argentina in Pool B while Japan will fight against Russia, Bulgaria and Cuba in Pool C. The Intercontinental Rounds take place over six weekends from June 12 to July 18, 2009. Each team plays two matches against the same team on home-away basis on separate days over the same weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).

Asia will also host three other FIVB events in 2009. India will host 2009 Men's Junior World Volleyball Championship from July 31 to August 9 while Thailand is to organize the 2009 Girls' Youth Volleyball Championship from July 3 to 13. Japan is to host the 2009 World Grand Champions Cup in November.

Qatar and United Arab Emirates may host the Men's and Women's World Club Championship respectively in November if FIVB approves.