Competition in Italy will be held over four days, beginning with qualification matches tomorrow.

Pool phase action will then take place, with the finals in both the men’s and women’s events scheduled for Sunday (April 7).

The host nation will be well represented in the men’s competition, with seven teams expected to turn out for Italy.

A total of 21 teams are due to compete in the men’s event, while 18 will contest the women’s tournament.

The competition follows the inaugural World Tour event at Wagrain-Kleinarl in Austria last week.

Russia’s Olga Motrich, Anna Romashova, Olga Filina and Polina Lapteva won the women’s competition.

Austria’s Florian Schnetzer, Alexander Huber, Martin Streitfellner and Christoph Dressler triumphed in front of a home crowd in the men’s event.

Italian Volleyball Federation President Pietro Bruno Cattaneo has backed the new format.

“There are some similarities with beach volleyball, but with other challenges,” he said.

“Of course, you also need to be a mountain lover to try it.

“I think one of the most impressive aspects of snow volleyball is how visually spectacular it is.

“It is an incredibly athletic discipline which is sure to attract fans, and the venues are truly breath-taking, natural settings.

“We believe that we should always push the boundaries of our sport and snow volleyball is a real representation of this.”

The FIVB is promoting the discipline in the hope it may one day be added to the Winter Olympic programme.

The governing body is hopeful of having snow volleyball included as a demonstration event at next year’s Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne.