Credit: volleyball.org.au
Volleyslam is returning to the Gold Coast in two weeks, with the festival of beach volleyball to be even bigger in 2022 with the announcement that the FIVB Beach Pro Tour Futures event is to be part of the line up.
Volleyslam brings together three marquee events from Volleyball Australia that includes the premier Australian Beach Volleyball Tour (ABVT) as well as the Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships and the Australian Beach Volleyball Schools Cup, two events designed to unearth the next generation of talent.
From 25-27 March 2022 the ABVT Final (that will double as the Australian Championships) will be held which is the last round of the domestic beach volleyball tour. It will be followed by two junior competitions that will attract juniors from across Australia and is designed to give junior athletes the opportunity to showcase their talent on the national stage.
With international borders opening, Coolangatta has been added to the FIVB Beach Pro Tour Futures calendar, which will attract world class talent including from Australia.
Volleyball Australia CEO, Andrew Dee, said the addition of the FIVB Beach Pro Tour to be part of the Volleyslam festival, will provide a great opportunity for fans and participants alike.
“More beach volleyball action than ever before will be arriving on the Gold Coast and we are thrilled to be providing opportunities for all levels of participants.
“Volleyslam brings together three important national beach volleyball events including our marquee Australian Beach Volleyball Tour as well as catering for junior and school age students who are looking to make their mark.
“The addition of the FIVB Beach Pro Tour Futures event is hugely exciting, given we have been restricted in our ability to attract international teams due to border closures. Volleyball Australia is eager to host more international level competitions as we build towards 2032.
“With the Gold Coast set to host the beach volleyball competition for the 2032 Olympic Games, it provides us with a great opportunity to bring together the next generation of talent to compete at the iconic Coolangatta beach. We need to ensure over the next decade we continue to provide opportunities to identify talent that have the potential to represent Australia on the world stage,” he said.
Olympic silver medalist, Taliqua Clancy, said having international beach volleyball events in Queensland, alongside the junior events as well, is very exciting for the sport leading into 2032.
“It’s awesome now that the world is opening up and it’s awesome that we get to have a great event at home in Coolangatta.
“Unfortunately myself and Mariafe will be away competing on the World Tour, but it’s a great opportunity for the up and comers to hit the beach.
“It’s extremely important to have [international] events at home and it’s an opportunity I wish I had when I was young and it’s really great that we get that extra exposure… especially leading into 2032,” she said.
“It’s such a great opportunity to have the young athletes competing on our local beach at Coolangatta,” added Clancy’s Olympic silver-medal winning partner Mariafe Artacho del Solar.
“To have the Schools Cup happening at the same time as the World Tour event, it’s such incredible exposure for the young kids to see what they can aim for.”
Queensland Tourism and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said it was terrific to have Volleyslam on the Gold Coast.
“Volleyslam’s 10-day Gold Coast festival is the only place to witness both elite and emerging champions in action,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“Events like Volleyslam bring competitors and families to the Gold Coast who stay on for a holiday and support the city’s visitor economy.
“Australia’s home of beach volleyball is the world-famous Gold Coast, and a natural 2032 Olympic Games beach volleyball host.”
“Beach volleyball is synonymous with the southern Gold Coast. We all fondly remember the amazing beach volleyball spectacular played out during the 2018 Commonwealth Games,” said Deputy Mayor Donna Gates.
“VolleySlam will bring a new dimension to the sport, and I expect bumper crowds to flock to Coolangatta in March and April for the three separate competition formats.’’
Volleyslam
Australia Beach Volleyball Tour/Australian Championships: 25-27 March 2022
Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships: 28-31 March 2022
Australian Beach Volleyball Schools Cup: 2-4 April 2022
Pro Beach Volleyball Tour Futures: 30 March – 3 April
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