Antalya is due to host the 2021 European Sitting Volleyball Championships ©ParaVolley Europe

Next year's European Sitting Volleyball Championships in Turkey have been pushed back by five months due to the coronavirus pandemic and recent developments regarding a COVID-19 vaccine.

The event in Antalya, due to feature men's and women's tournaments, had been scheduled to take place in May but has been moved to October by ParaVolley Europe, with exact dates yet to be announced.

It is now set to be held after the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, postponed to 2021 as a result of the global health crisis.

ParaVolley Europe President Branko Mihorko said the decision to change the dates of the event had been made "following the current COVID-19 situation and vaccine development".

The European Sitting Volleyball Championships have been moved until after the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics ©Getty Images
The European Sitting Volleyball Championships have been moved until after the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics ©Getty Images

"The ParaVolley Europe Board has decided together with the organisers in Turkey to change the planned dates from May 2021 to October 2021," said Mihorko.

Mihorko added the Board was hopeful training and competitions will resume in the early part of 2021.

"We will soon provide you with more information regarding the 2021 European Championships, such as the exact dates and format," he said. 

"We do welcome your suggestions and feedback and also expect you to keep on being active by suggesting organisers for the Nations League competitions."