Beach Volleyball  

Blackpool's famous promenade was the venue for the UK's first international beach volleyball tournament when the two leading GB women's teams took on six top pairs from Europe to give the British audience its first taste of top class beach action.

The FIVB Exhibition Tournament finals were played under floodlights, creating a great sporting spectacle alongside the town's famous illuminations, while a specially commissioned troupe of dancers from Blackpool's Pleasure Beach led the cheerleading.

The event was sanctioned by the sport's national governing body, the England Volleyball Association. Participating teams were invited by BVUK from Austria, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland. After two days of close matched competition, the tournament was won by Spanish National Champions Ester Alcon and Olga Matveeva.

Building the event site involved moving more than 260 tonnes of sand from the beach to the promenade, erecting a 1,000 seat stadium plus marquees for players, medical facilities and a VIP area with a raised, covered viewing platform.

Plans are now in hand for BVUK Ltd to bring a series of European level beach tournaments to Blackpool beginning in 2008.

It is all part of a planned strategy by Blackpool Council and the North West Development Agency to reposition the resort as a premier beach sport destination and is backed by a multi-million pound regeneration programme.

Jane Seddon, Director of Tourism from Visit Blackpool, said: "Our town was delighted to host this International Volleyball Event and looks forward to Blackpool being a firm fixture on this young and vibrant sport's key competition calendar".

It is all part of a planned strategy by Blackpool Council and the North West Development Agency to reposition the resort as a premier beach sport destination and is backed by a multi-million pound regeneration programme.

Picture Gallery - CLICK HERE»
Meet the Players - CLICK HERE»
Tournament results - CLICK HERE »

Blackpool Action Pics by John Cassidy Photos