The sand for the beach volleyball test event at Horse Guards Parade, which was titled the Visa FIVB Beach Volleyball International, originally came from a quarry in Godstone in Surrey and has now been sent to three sites across London.

These sites are the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, The Score Sports Centre in Waltham Forest and Westminster Academy Sports Centre.

The sand will be used for seven new courts and it is hoped that it will be used by an influx of new players inspired by the test event and Volleyball England's new "Go Spike" campaign, which is aimed at getting more people into the sport.

"Beach Volleyball is a sport everybody can play and these new facilities will give everyone a chance to get involved with this great sport," said Richard Callicott, President of Volleyball England.

"I would like to thank London 2012 and Sport England for our partnership and working together to create a great legacy for Volleyball.

"To be able to say that we are putting in our legacy one year before the 2012 Games means we will be able to enthuse young people and run coaching clinics and teach people about beach volleyball so that they can enjoy the Games even more."


The beach volleyball test event was considered a major success and saw the British pair of Lucy Boulton and Denise Johns make it to the bronze medal match.

However, the duo ended their competition in fourth after they were beaten in the match by Brazilian pair Taiana Lima and Vivian Danielle da Conceição, but their efforts no doubt introduced a new fan base to the sport.

"We want to leave a legacy for sport after the Games in a variety of ways, so it is great that the sand from our test event can be distributed to venues in this way, so legacy can start to happen before the Games have even begun," said London 2012 director of sport Debbie Jevans.

"We hope that having these courts at different locations in London will inspire more young people to get involved in an exciting sport"

Lisa Wainwright, the chief executive of Volleyball England added: "Through an innovative partnership between London 2012, Sport England and Volleyball England we are delighted to announce these new facilities.

"This will be the first set of legacy facilities operational in London before games time, all based within 10 miles of Horse Guards Parade.

"This is a fabulous opportunity for Londoners to come along to a local facility and give Beach Volleyball a go, meet new friends, get healthier and maybe start a new sport for life."

The Visa FIVB Beach Volleyball International saw a 1,500 capacity temporary arena in place but at next year's Olympics Horse Guards Parade will have a 15,000 capacity temporary arena for the duration of the competition.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected].


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