To date, the Oceania region has received CHF 1.3 million of funding through the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme
The FIVB, in close collaboration with the Oceania Zonal Volleyball Association (OZVA) and Olympic Solidarity, successfully concluded the Oceania U18 Beach Volleyball Championships in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Held from 6 to 9 April 2025, the event formed part of the Olympic Solidarity Youth Athlete Development Programme and reflects the FIVB’s ongoing commitment to facilitating the growth of volleyball worldwide through targeted development initiatives.
The championship brought together 12 men’s and seven women’s teams from across Oceania, including Guam, Palau, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Australia, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. The competition provided a valuable platform for 38 young athletes to gain experience at the international level, supported by 10 international technical officials, 25 national technical officials and 60 volunteers.
Podium Results:
Men
- Gold: Turner / Grocott (Australia)
- Silver: Allen / Aisi (Papua New Guinea)
- Bronze: Tarakabu / Manoa (Solomon Islands)
Women
- Gold: Leo Guerrero / Chen (Guam)
- Silver: Gaborit / Akanoa (Australia)
- Bronze: Afatia / Fale (American Samoa)
This event is a continuation of the FIVB’s strategic focus on long-term development in Oceania. To date, the region has received over CHF 1.3 million in support through the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme, primarily directed toward coaching development and capacity building. The U18 Championships serve as an example of how that investment is translating into competitive opportunities for players in the region.
FIVB President Fabio Azevedo said:
“Through the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032, the FIVB remains deeply committed to supporting the development of volleyball in every corner of the world. Our partnership with Olympic Solidarity reflects our vision of sport as a vehicle for collaboration, integration, peace and solidarity. Events like the Oceania U18 Beach Volleyball Championships demonstrate how targeted support, delivered in partnership with our continental stakeholders, can create a lasting impact for young athletes and their communities.”
The championship brought together 12 men’s and seven women’s teams from across Oceania Picture credit: Aelanlife Photography
Sheila Stephens Desbans, Head of Sport Development and Oceania Continental Manager for Olympic Solidarity stated; ‘The opportunity for the NOCs of Oceania to benefit from the collaborative opportunity from FIVB and Olympic Solidarity is seen as very important for the continued growth and development of beach volleyball in the Pacific, especially on the pathway to Brisbane 2032. These tournaments that also focus on developing not just the athletes but also the coaches and officials showcase the regional talent and strength. It is great to see nations such as Guam, Papua New Guinea, American Samoa and Solomon Islands winning medals as well as hosting this type of event and being able to compete against nations like Australia.’
“At ONOC, we are committed to creating more opportunities for our Pacific NOCs to thrive through partnerships like this with FIVB and Olympic Solidarity. The integration of athlete, coach, and official development through these tournaments is a powerful model for sustainable sport growth in our region. Witnessing Pacific nations not only host but also medal in these events reflects the immense potential we have as we look ahead to Brisbane 2032,” said Ricardo Blas, Secretary General, Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC).
The event formed part of the Olympic Solidarity Youth Athlete Development Programme Picture credit: Aelanlife Photography
OZVA President and FIVB Executive Vice-President Hugh Graham highlighted the growing momentum in the region, stating:
“There is no doubt that volleyball is one of the most popular sports across Oceania, and it is continuing to grow, with increased infrastructure, structured training programmes and greater access to international opportunities. The performances we witnessed in Honiara are a clear indication of the region’s potential. With the support of the FIVB and Olympic Solidarity, we are laying the groundwork for future success at the highest level.”
During the event, the National Federation of Solomon Islands, with support from the IOC Olympic Solidarity programme, successfully organised a Technical Coaches Course for referees. In preparation for the International Referee Candidate Course for Oceania referees, the National Federation of Colombia (NF-COL) also conducted a pre-course. The Oceania Referee Course was led by Ms Mariko Satomi of Japan, a certified FIVB Referee Instructor. The course welcomed a total of 35 participants, comprising 25 local referees and 10 referees from across the Oceania region.
The FIVB’s partnership with the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity initiative has resulted in several recent youth-focused development initiatives. These include the first junior women’s beach volleyball championship in the Middle East (Doha, 2024) and the ECVA U19 Beach Volleyball Championships in St. Kitts and Nevis (2023), which both expanded pathways to international competitions. Read more about them here:
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