Players compete in the first National Beach Volleyball Grand Slam in Suzhou on Aug 7, 2014. [Photo/Suzhou Daily]

The first National Beach Volleyball Grand Slam opened at the Suzhou Sports Center and Suzhou Canal Park August 7. The four-day competition has 16 men and 16 female teams from across the country. The group and knock-out games take four days in both venues. The final will be at the Suzhou Sports Center. The teams include the top 16 beach volleyball players in China.

The national team will compete in a challenge game with the champion and runner-up on August 10. Winners of the grand slam will receive 50,000 yuan ($8,118) in prize money, the largest award in China’s beach volleyball competitions.

All daytime games are free and tickets are needed for night games. The competition’s organizing committee will hold charity activities and donate proceeds during the games to those impacted by the recent Ludian earthquake in Yunnan province. 

Players compete in the first National Beach Volleyball Grand Slam in Suzhou on Aug 7, 2014. [Photo/Suzhou Daily]