Volleyball stars and NSW Premier launch Volleyfest at Manly

NSW Premier, Mike Baird, joined past and present at Manly Beach to launch the biggest beach volleyball event in Australia since the Sydney Olympics.

BEACH VOLL: NSW Premier, Mike Baird, joined Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medallists, Kerri Pottharst and Natalie Cook, for the media announcement of the biggest beach volleyball event in Australia since the Sydney Olympics.

In the space of just two weeks, Manly Beach will host the Australian Beach Volleyball Tour Finals, the inaugural 4 Nations Cup, and the Asian Volleyball Confederation Beach Volleyball Championships.

Joining Premier Baird and the Olympic gold medallists at the launch this were Manly locals Nicole Laird and Mariafe Artacho del Solar, who are hoping to qualify later this year to represent Australia in Beach Volleyball at the Rio Olympics.

The Manly Volleyfest, which will run over three weekends from March 18 until March 28 and will become a regular fixture over the next three years at Manly Beach, thanks to the partnership with the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

“Volleyfest is a festival of beach volleyball that sees some of the world’s best converge on Manly Beach for nine days of competition. With the Rio Olympics around the corner the competition will be intense, and it will attract visitors to Manly from around Australia and overseas,” Mr Baird said.

Over the next three years Volleyfest is expected to attract more than 8,000 domestic and international visitors, with an estimated visitor spend of $6.2 million. The event will also showcase Manly Beach to a worldwide audience, highlighting the spectacular beach and surrounds.

Taking place just after the Australian Open of Surfing at Manly Beach, the event will see the Australian Beach Volleyball Tour Finals played from 19-20 March, the 4 Nations Cup played from 21-22 March and the AVC Asian Championships played from 25-28 March.

Volleyball Australia would like to thank the NSW Government, Destination NSW, Manly Council, Hancock Prospecting, the Georgina Hope Foundation, Bendon Lingerie, Three Threes Condiments and the Schwartz Family Company for their on-going support of its beach and indoor programs.

After attending the launch at Manly Beach, Natalie Cook flew with Laird and Artacho del Solar to Adelaide for the ASPIRE #RoadToRio session. Cook, who will work in Athlete Services for the AOC in Rio, as MC at the session and the young exciting pairing there to help with their Rio Team preparations.

Volleyball Australia