By Emily Goddard

Adelaide will host the first ever Standing Beach Volleyball World Championship for men with a physical disability in 2014 ©World ParaVolleyDecember 17 - Adelaide has been named as the host of the historic first Standing Beach Volleyball World Championship for athletes with a disability set to take place next year.

World ParaVolley awarded the men's only competition, which will be held on Glenelg Beach in November 2014, to the Australian city at its Board meeting in Toronto.

"Having a great history in the discipline of beach volleyball for the able-bodied, Volleyball Australia is honoured to host the first ever Standing Beach Volleyball World Championship for men with a physical disability in 2014 in Adelaide, South Australia," event manager Barry Couzner told insidethegames.

"We are anticipating 16 teams from around the world and promise to organise an event of outstanding quality for the athletes."

The event will offer $5,000 (£2,700/$4,400/€3,200) in prize money and will follow the format of a preliminary round of pool play followed by a 12-team single elimination phase.

Glenelg Beach, which has already staged the Australian Beach Volleyball Championships, will host the first ever Standing Beach Volleyball World Championship for men with a physical disability in 2014 ©Getty ImagesGlenelg Beach, which has already staged the Australian Beach Volleyball Championships, will host the first ever Standing Beach Volleyball World Championship for men with a physical disability in 2014 ©Getty Images


Couzner added that the event follows "a significant series of procedures and processes over the last few years that have meant that disability volleyball was 'mainstreamed'."

A permanent commission of Volleyball Australia has also been established to plan the development of volleyball for athletes with a disability, and the national governing body now allocates funds to support activities in the discipline and identify athletes.

"World ParaVolley looks forward to working with Volleyball Australia to ensure the inaugural Beach Standing World Championships (Men) is a landmark event in the development of the discipline for our athletes," Denis Le Breuilly, World ParaVolley sport director, said.

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