LAUSANNE, Switzerland, July 08, 2004 - The 2004 World Grand Prix will feature amazing prize money, new venues and an exciting playing format when it starts on Friday.

A grand total of an unprecedented US$1.295 million in prize money is on offer for the premier women's Volleyball event with 12 of the best teams in the world competing for the honour of World Grand Prix champion.

After last year's change in venue from Asia to Italy due to the health crisis caused by Severe Acute Respiratory syndrome (SARS), the World Grand Prix, now in its 12th year, will entertain fans around the world in a thrilling format featuring a Preliminary Round in Asia before the Final Round in Italy. Last year both the Preliminary Round and Final Round were held in Italy.

"The World Grand Prix will again showcase the best of international women's Volleyball and will be a riveting competition as it travels through Asia and on to Italy," FIVB President Dr. Rubén Acosta said. "With 10 of the 12 World Grand Prix teams competing in the Olympic Games in just over a month this tournament is going to be an exciting preview to Athens."

Three Asian cities - Bangkok in Thailand, Miao Li in Taiwan and Kawasaki in Japan - will host the opening weekend of matches from July 9-11, which sees 12 teams split into three groups of four across the three exotic venues.

China, the world number one women's Volleyball team on the FIVB rankings and defending champions, will open their campaign with a tough encounter against Germany, ranked 11th in the world, in Miao Li before playing the Dominican Republic on Saturday and Brazil, in one of the feature matches of the weekend, on Sunday.

Last year's runner's up Russia play Poland in the opening match in Kawasaki before playing world champions Italy on Saturday and Japan on Sunday.

World number two USA has a tough opening hurdle when they play last year's surprise World Grand Prix finalists Korea in Bangkok before taking on three-time Olympic champions Cuba on Saturday. Their third match is against Thailand on Sunday.

All 12 teams move to three different venues for the second weekend - Manila, Hong Kong and Jakarta - from July 16-18 before visiting the German, Chinese and Korean cities of Rostock, Hefei and Jeju City respectively in the final weekend of Preliminary Round action from July 22-24.

World Grand Prix Final Round host Italy, will be joined by the top five ranked teams after the Preliminary Rounds in the final phase.