Recently the Board has submitted several applications for the development and promotion of Beach in an effort to offer the discipline of beach paravolley to our athletes with a physical impairment – thereby increasing playing opportunities.

Our LA 2028 application for the inclusion of beach paravolley (along with sitting volleyball) faces much competition with a total of 33 sports applying overall.  The decision will be announced early in 2023 and World ParaVolley considers that, despite COVID-19, we have a strong case to utilise the beaches on the west coast of the USA in Los Angeles.

The Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games organising committee in Australia invited EOIs from interested international federations and World ParaVolley lodged a detailed application to include beach paravolley alongside the beach volleyball competition at the same venue in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.  The outcome will be known later this year.

A third application for beach paravolley (and for sitting beach volleyball) was lodged with the Mediterranean Beach Games Sports Program Commission for inclusion in the 2023 Games to be held in Crete, Greece.  This was a significant move because, once again, it places beach for athletes with a physical impairment alongside beach volleyball for able-bodied athletes – thus demonstrating true access and equality.

World ParaVolley President Barry Couzner OAM said: “I would like to thank Lori Okimura (Sport Director), Dr Stephen Giugni OAM (Assistant Sport Director, Beach), Phil Allen (General Manager), Nick Coburn (PVAO Beach Commissioner) and Volleyball Australia for their support in putting together these applications. World ParaVolley is committed strategically to the further development of beach in the future in order to offer increased opportunities for our athletes – meanwhile, fingers crossed for good luck!”