Beijing, China, August 19, 2008 – FIVB President Dr. Rubén Acosta told Xinhua News Agency on Tuesday that Chinese Beach Volleyball is rapidly approaching the world's top level.

"China now has two Beach Volleyball teams competing in medal matches at the Beijing Olympics. It showed that China is coming to the world's top level in Beach Volleyball," President Acosta said in an interview with Xinhua after watching the women's semi-final between the two Chinese duos, Tian Jia and Wang Jie and Zhang Xi and Xue Chen.

With a team in the final, China has secured a Beach Volleyball silver medal, a historic leap for the country, whose best Olympics finish was ninth, achieve by Tian and her then partner Wang Fei at the Athens Games.

"The Chinese player's performance was sensational and was top quality," Dr. Acosta added.

President Acosta congratulated the success of the Chinese players at the Beijing Games.

He said China's success in Beach Volleyball at the Beijing Olympics will promote the development of the sport in China.

"At the moment Beach Volleyball is not so popular in China, but through the success it will come to become a major sport in China like other sports," said Dr. Acosta.

The FIVB President suggested Chinese players should attend more international competitions and do more training abroad to further enhance their competing level and that China should also hold more SWATCH FIVB World Tour events to promote the popularity of the sport in China.

"The Beach Volleyball ground in the Chaoyang Park can be the Beijing station of the FIVB World Tour, for example," said Dr. Acosta.