Copa Lagos: How Beach Soccer Conquered the World Quickly

 The Development and Growth of Beach Soccer Worldwide

Origin

Beach Soccer originated from Brazil! The Brazilian people's passion for football games moved from the traditional grass pitch unto the beach. Spectacular moves were adapted to the sand, an environment where skill improvisation, excellent physical conditioning, the swing and natural ability that Brazilians are known for in football, outplayed.

The sun, the sea and the sand of the Copacabana beach have made up the scenery for the creation of the Beach Soccer, a sport full of plasticity, aerial plays, spectacular dribbles and goals… lots of goals.

Developed by the founding partners of Beach Soccer Worldwide, the Beach Soccer rules were established in a dynamic format, one which causes each player's individual skills to prevail, while stressing fair play among the athletes.

Fastest Growing Sport

The game was originally intended as a highly appreciated spectator sport, valuing and generating businesses in advertising and sales. The formula has worked out. Beach Soccer has conquered the world quickly, and is now played in 75 countries within the six FIFA Confederation zones.

It is a sport for all audiences, played by men, women and children alike. The scene has always been the same: Lots of sun and heat, packed arenas, personalities from the sports world standing on the Podium of Honor, huge queues forming before dawn for a seat to watch World Championship finals, etc.

The participation of internationally renowned players such as flamboyant Frenchman Eric Cantona, legendary Spanish strikers Michel and Julio Salinas and Brazilian samba stars such as Romario, Junior and Zico has helped to expand television coverage to large audiences in over 170 countries worldwide, making Beach Soccer one of the fastest growing sports in the world and converting it into a major showcase for international commercial opportunity.

 Pro Beach Soccer with Great Commercial Opportunities

Setting up the competition, the early success of the World Championships (started by Koch Tavares) saw commercial interest begin to match developments on the pitch, and growing demand for the sport around the world gave rise to the Pro Beach Soccer Tour in 1996, organised by Barcelona-based Beach Soccer Company, and later renamed Pro Beach Soccer.

The first Pro Beach Soccer Tour included a total of 60 games across Europe, Asia and the U.S.A., attracting major names both on and off the pitch. Interest generated by the tour in Europe led to the creation of the Euro Beach Soccer League in 1998, providing a solid infrastructure that would increase the professionalism of the sport on all levels.

The EPBSL, now known as the Euro BS League, united promoters from across the continent and satisfied the demands of the media, sponsors and fans. Only four years on from its creation, the successful first step in the building of a legitimate Worldwide Competition Structure for the sport of Pro Beach Soccer had been taken.

Formation of BSWW

Behind the scenes, key developments were also taking place, with both founding partners joining forces to form a single entity known as Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW). Its goal was to unify all major Beach Soccer tournaments in the world under the same structure and to provide sole representation of the sport to major sponsors, the media and FIFA.

A part of the FIFA family. Just over some years ago, beach soccer became a part of the FIFA family, and in May 2005, the first-ever FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup was staged on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. To everyone's surprise, France defeated Portugal in the final, while hot favorites Brazil fell in the semis.

Copa Lagos Bring Beach Soccer Home

Copa Lagos beach Soccer tournament started in 2011, organized under the auspices of Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW) tour. And kinetic Sport marketing company in Nigeria has been able to  create aware as well as draw spectators and brands interest in such way that the tourney has turn out into one great soccer festival for tourists and Christmas holiday makers in the city of Lagos.

It's fun for everyone at Eko Atlantic City, venue of Copa Lagos. A time out to mingle with sport personalities around the world. Copa Lagos has been able to attract Nigerian football legends such as Austin Jay-jay Okocha, Victor Ikpeba, Peter Rufai... It growing fast and getting better each year.