Olympic Games
Venues-Beach Volleyball
Chinese paradise for beach volleyball
Last Updated: Friday, August 7, 2009 | 12:39 PM ET
Bernice Chan CBC Sports
The Olympic Beach Volleyball venue in Beijing, 15 August 2007. (Frederic J. Brown/Getty Images) Hainan Island is the most southern part of China. Sometimes it’s referred to as “the Hawaii of China” for its fine sand beaches and palm trees. You can see the potential of the place becoming a fantastic resort and already five-star hotels are encroaching on this area to develop it.
The soft sand on the beaches is one of the biggest selling points of this Chinese paradise. Some 17,000 tons of it was shipped up north to Beijing to create the beach volleyball venue in Chaoyang Park, east of the city.
The park is large, with some areas holding old amusement rides, or paths for people to walk or ride along. And the Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground is on a former industrial site. Three of the old factories have been converted into facility spaces used by Federation International de Volleyball (FIVB) officials, athletes, competition personnel, security, technicians and the media.
It’s the first time a beach volleyball venue has been built in China. The venue includes a main competition ground, two exercise arenas, and six practice ones. Wrapped around the venue are the spectators’ seats, all 12,000 to take in the bumps, volleys and spikes of the competitors.
Organizers have taken a lot of care into making sure the sand is clean and fine enough to meet FIVB standards. Canadian company Hutcheson Sand and Mixes was hired by FIVB to be the official sand consulting and testing company. Todd Knapton was in Beijing to oversee the preparation of the sand. And according to organizers, Knapton was pleased with the construction of the venue.
After the Games the sand won’t be shipped back, but instead used to create a “beachside bathhouse” near a lake in the park. Sounds like another oasis will be springing up for Beijingers to beat the summer heat.
