Volleyball champs to compete in resort
From the Blackpool Citizen, first published Wednesday 22nd Aug 2007.
Top international sport will come to Blackpool next month when the resort hosts the UK's first floodlit international beach volleyball tournament.
Leading players from this country will compete in the two-day Blackpool International Beach Volleyball 2007 tournament on September 14 and 15 against teams from the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, Greece and Spain.
Eight all-female teams will battle it out in a new custom-built, 1000-seater arena at St Chad's headland on the Promenade, South Shore, which is currently undergoing a £62million reconstruction.
The line-up includes England squad members Denise Johns and Lucy Boulton with Zara Dampney and Shauna Mullins and the event is being staged as part of the resort's bid to host a European Tour event next year and a World Tour event in 2009 alongside tournaments in other sand sports.
The event will be a chance for British volleyball players to gain experience of a home crowd in the lead up the 2012 Olympic Games.
Absolute beginners from the North West will also get the chance to try their hand at the sport as organisers are planning a youth and community tournament on Thursday, September 13.
And organisers are also planning a fire show on a special stage, on Saturday 15, during breaks in play.
Sand for the tournament will come from Blackpool's beaches and will be re-used subsequently as in-fill for the new areas of seawall.
Peter Mearns, North West Development Agency (NWDA) executive director for marketing, said: "The NWDA is investing £3.5m to support a programme of signature events in Blackpool over the next three years as part of our commitment to the resort's ongoing regeneration.
"Major events have an important role to play in Blackpool's economic renaissance, helping to attract more business and leisure visitors to the area and raising its profile as a place to visit and invest.
"The Beach Volleyball Championships will be a fantastic addition to Blackpool's programme of events this year, and will showcase the resort's regenerated promenade, also part funded by the NWDA.
"Blackpool International Beach Volleyball 2007 is timed to coincide with the celebrated illuminations and event spectators will also catch the spectacular heats of the World Fireworks Championships from their seats."
Entry for the event is free but by ticket via VisitBlackpool from September 1 or from the box office at the arena from September 12 onwards.
Contact the Blackpool Visitor First Centre on 01253 478222 or log onto the website via the link below for details.
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