The resort did also play host to the 2015 FIVB World Tour Finals, but this was only for a select field.

A total of 121 male and female entries spanning 28 nations are entered to participate this time around.

This includes 15 pairs who also featured at last year's Olympic Games.

Three of the four gold medal winners will be present.

Brazilian men's duo Alison Cerutti and Bruno Oscar Schmidt, who dazzled en-route to a home victory on Copacabana Bay, will be in action.

Kira Walkenhorst of Germany will also feature.

She will be competing with Julia Grossner since her Copacabana partner Laura Ludwig is sidelined after having left shoulder surgery in December.

Men’s silver medal winners Daniele Lupo and Paolo Nicolai of Italy and women’s bronze medal finishers April Ross and Kerri Walsh Jennings of the United States are also among the entrees..

Action will begin with qualifying tomorrow.