SI volleyball team heads for historic finals for Olympic spot

SI National Men’s Beach Volleyball Team heads to China for AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup Semi-Final and Final for Olympic qualification

June 13, 2024 Tulagi, Solomon Islands – The Solomon Islands National Men’s Beach Volleyball Team is set to make history as they depart for Ningbo, China, to participate in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Volleyball Continental Cup Semi-final and Final. This prestigious event serves as an Olympic qualifier, marking a significant milestone for the sport in the countryand a monumental achievement for team sports in the Solomon Islands.

This opportunity comes as a result of the team’s hard work and dedication, accumulating enough points through regional competitions to qualify for this grand event. “The journey to reach this point has been long and challenging, and we are immensely proud of our men’s squad members for their relentless effort, time, and sacrifices. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the families of our players for their patience, understanding, and unwavering support,” SIVF said in a statement tonight.

“Your commitment has given our athletes the best chance to continue serving and representing our country as proud sports ambassadors,” it stated.

SIVF acknowledges the invaluable support from the Solomon Islands Government, through the National Sport Council (NSC), the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS), and the Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC) through the National Olympic Committee Solomon Islands (NOCSI), the Solomon Islands Volleyball Federation (SIVF) and president Mr. Morris Maitaki.

“Your monetary and technical support has been crucial in making this tour possible. Additionally, we thank the Oceania Volleyball Federation and our counterparts at the Vanuatu Volleyball Federation for their endorsements, support, and partnership,” the statement, said.

The men’s teams departed the country this evening at 6 pm, routing through Brisbane, Australia, to China.

As per competition regulations, each qualified participating country must send two teams per gender. Vanuatu will represent the region in the women’s category as the top-ranked women’s team. Due to financial constraints and logistics challenges, it was necessary to send our team without a coach and team manager.

“Despite this, we remain confident in our players’ abilities and their dedication to making our nation proud. We call on the entire nation to support and stand behind our national men’s beach volleyball team as they travel and prepare to represent the Solomon Islands at the AVC Continental Cup Championship. Your encouragement and support mean the world to our athletes,” the statement, said.