Beach volleyball the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) was founded. At the professional level, the sport remained fairly obscure until the 1980s when beach volleyball experienced a surge in popularity with high-profile players such as Sinjin Smith, Randy Stoklos, and Karch Kiraly. Kiraly won an Olympic gold medal in beach volleyball in its first Olympic appearance in 1996, adding that to the two Olympic golds he won as part of the USA men's indoor team, and has won 142 titles. In the 1980s, the sport gained popularity on the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1986, the
Beach Volleyball Republic Beach Volleyball Republic Beach Volleyball Republic, Inc. (BVR) is an organization aimed for the development and growth of beach volleyball in the Philippines formed in June 2015. Co-founded by former Ateneo Lady Eagles volleybelles and current professional players Charo Soriano, Gretchen Ho, Fille Cainglet-Cayetano, Dzi Gervacio, Bea Tan and former Petron Blaze Spikers player Alexa Micek, BVR organized beach volleyball tournaments in different beaches and public places in the Philippines, grassroots development program for the young and aspiring players and the professional circuit tours thru the Beach Royals program under Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) beach volleyball consultant Eric Lecain including