
The Coolangatta beachfront will host the venue for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) Beach Volleyball competition, the Minister for the Commonwealth Games, Stirling Hinchliffe, has announced this week.
The sport secured a spot in the Gold Coast 2018 sports program after an historic agreement was signed in March this year between the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the Queensland Government and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC). Its staging in a temporary stadium at the city’s southern-most beachside location means that spectacular television images of the Gold Coast’s iconic coastline will be seen by some 1.5 billion people across the world over the course of the April 4-15 2018 event. Minister Hinchliffe said:
Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) Chief Executive Officer, Mark Peters, said there had been great consideration given to the location for the Beach Volleyball competition. He confirmed:
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Vice President, Bruce Robertson, said as an additional sport on the sports program of the XXI Commonwealth Games, Beach Volleyball will engage more communities, athletes, partners and broadcasters. He added:
Volleyball Australia Chief Executive Officer, Mathieu Meriaux agreed:
Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA) Chief Executive Officer, Craig Phillips suggested the location at the southern end of the Gold Coast was ideal for the event’s debut adding it would also attract spectators from northern New South Wales. Having just returned from the CGF Oceania Regional Meeting in Vanuatu, Mr Phillips also said the sentiment from the Pacific regions was one of genuine excitement at Beach Volleyball’s inclusion in the GC2018 sport program. Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate welcomed the announcement:
It is the first time Beach Volleyball will feature in a Commonwealth Games with the GC2018 sports program increasing from 17 to 18 sports – the largest sport program in the Games history. GC2018 sports are Athletics, Aquatics (swimming and diving), Badminton, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cycling (road, mountain and track), Gymnastics, Hockey, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Rugby Sevens, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Weightlifting and Wrestling. The fully-integrated GC2018 Para-Sport program comprising seven sports will also be the most extensive para-sport program on record for a Commonwealth Games. The events will be staged across 18 competition venues with 14 sports on the Gold Coast, two in Brisbane (Shooting and Track Cycling) with preliminary basketball matches played in Cairns and Townsville.
Image: MinterEllison Launch – Presenting Surfboard Countdown Clock. Courtesy: GOLDOC
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