Pictured at the announcement on the Gold Coast:
The Hon. Stirling Hinchliffe MP – Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games, Natalie Cook OAM – Olympic Beach Volleyball gold medallist
, Phoebe Bell
In a Commonwealth Games first, Beach Volleyball has been to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) sports program. The historic agreement between the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the Queensland Government, the Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA) and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) will extend the Games sports program for the first time from 17 to 18 sports.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk welcomed the decision to include Beach Volleyball in the Gold Coast 2018 Games which was approved by the CGF Executive Board following a special request from the Minister for the Commonwealth Games and GOLDOC.
“I am proud my Government has been able to work with the Commonwealth Games Federation to expand the sports program and add Beach Volleyball to the GC2018 schedule,” Ms Palaszczuk commented “The Gold Coast’s beautiful beaches are a huge Games drawcard and Beach Volleyball is the perfect sporting fit for the 2018 program.”
Commonwealth Games Minister Stirling Hinchcliffe said Games partners are in the process of assessing suitable Gold Coast locations.
Volleyball Australia President Craig Carracher said he was very excited about the expansion of the Games program to include Beach Volleyball.
“There is no better cultural fit for this sport than the beautiful beaches of the Gold Coast and this will provide a great opportunity to contribute to the Australian medal tally,” Mr Carracher said.
The GC2018 sports program will include the following 18 sports: Athletics, Aquatics (swimming and diving), Badminton, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cycling (road, mountain and track), Gymnastics, Hockey, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Rugby Sevens, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Weightlifting, and Wrestling.
The final GC2018 full integrated Para-Sports program will be announced later this month.