Brazilian beach volleyballer Ana Paula Connelly will replace her compatriot Juliana Felisberta Silva to play at the Beijing Olympic Games, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) confirmed in a press release on Thursday.

Silva, who earned a berth for the Beijing Games as the third-ranked team on the qualifying list with Larissa Franca, had to withdraw due to a right knee injury that occurred almost two months ago in the FIVB World Tour Grand Slam stop in Paris, the FIVB said.

Upon arriving in Beijing for training sessions at the Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground Wednesday, Silva felt pain in her right knee and decided not to continue her preparations with Franca.

Brazil's Volleyball Confederation announced later that Connelly would replace Silva in the Beijing Olympic Games as the latter is suffering from sharp pains on her right knee.

Competing on the FIVB Beach Volleyball tour since 1999, Connelly has won 11 SWATCH FIVB World Tour gold medals with five different partners.

The Beijing Olympics beach volleyball competitions begin Aug. 9 with the preliminary rounds featuring pool play for the 24 men's and 24 women's teams. Elimination round competitions start Aug. 15 with the women's medal matches on Aug. 21 and the men's final two contest on Aug. 22.

(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2008)