Competitors gathered in Blackpool for an international beach volleyball tournament. This was the first time the Nestea European Tour held a round in the UK, with VisitBlackpool and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) hosting. The event was part of a £3.5 million NWDA investment to support major events in Blackpool as part of the town’s ongoing regeneration efforts.
The three-day tournament took place on six specially constructed courts, requiring 1,200 tonnes of sand, a 2,000-seat stand, and floodlights. With a prize fund of 100,000 Euros (£79,209) and Olympic qualifying points at stake, Britain’s top male and female players competed against Europe’s best teams. Nearly 100 top European teams participated, including 16 pairs who had recently represented their countries at the Beijing Olympics.
This tournament marked the second major beach volleyball event hosted in Britain, following the SWATCH FIVB Junior World Championships in Brighton. Richard Callicott, President of the English Volleyball Association, expressed delight over Blackpool’s success in hosting the event. He noted that England’s inclusion in the European tour sent a strong message to the international volleyball community ahead of the 2012 London Olympics.
Admission to the event was free.
