Volleyball Empowerment drives beach volleyball success at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

The FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme contributed to the success of beach volleyball at the recently concluded Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, with 14 of the 24 teams boosted by projects to Commonwealth National Teams during the previous Commonwealth Games cycle.

Through its revolutionary programme of Volleyball Empowerment, seven men’s and seven women’s teams from across 10 countries received coach support. The support helped to lift the overall level of teams performances for the sports second appearance at the Commonwealth Games, ensuring a highly successful competition with 24 teams going head-to-head on the sand.

Since 2019, the FIVB has provided coach support to the following participating men’s teams: New Zealand, Australia, Cyprus, Trinidad and Tobago, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu and Scotland, as well as the following women’s teams: St Kitts and Nevis, Sri Lanka, Australia, Maldives, New Zealand, Cyprus and Tuvalu. Additionally, Gambia was supported with beach volleyball equipment.

In the men’s event, the Australian pairing of Chris McHugh and Paul Burnett took home gold, silver was earned by Canada’s Sam Schachter and Dan Dearing, whilst England’s Bello twins (Joaquin and Javier) winning the bronze in their home country representing the first medal in beach volleyball England has won.

Photo credit: Commonwealth Games Federation

The women’s event was won by Canada’s Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes, Australia’s Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar were runners-up, and Vanuatu’s Miller Pata and Sherysyn Toko won bronze medals.

Both Australian teams and the Vanuatu women’s team have recently benefitted from FIVB coach support, and their success at the Games shows how investing in solid infrastructure can lead to success on the court.

The Maldives’ Minister of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment, Mr Ahmed Mahloof, was very proud of the Maldives men’s national team’s debut performance during the group stages.

Photo credit: Commonwealth Games Federation

FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça F° said:

“The Commonwealth Games is one of the most prestigious multisport events in the world, and to see so many teams flourishing on the big stage fills us at the FIVB with great satisfaction.

“We are very proud that so many of these teams have benefitted from our Volleyball Empowerment programme, and have shown that reinvesting profits back into the sport can help improve the level of beach volleyball worldwide.”

Throughout this last Commonwealth Games cycle, the FIVB demonstrated its commitment to improving the standard of international beach volleyball, investing 581,000 CHF across 10 projects for these countries.

In addition, the FIVB remains committed to supporting more National Federations at major events during the next cycle, with 166,500 CHF worth of coach support already approved for England, Canada, and Gambia whilst South Africa will be receiving volleyball equipment.