The British Volleyball Federation shares in the collective disappointment expressed by our partners at Scottish Volleyball, Northern Ireland Volleyball, and Volleyball England following the announcement that beach volleyball will not be included in the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Mark Kontopoulos, Chairman of the British Volleyball Federation said: “The Commonwealth Games are a vital stepping stone in the development of our performance athletes, and beach volleyball has become one of the most popular and highly watched events in recent Games. Competing at this level has a profound impact on our athletes' progress and development, as demonstrated by the success of our teams in recent years. This includes the remarkable achievement of the Bello Brothers, who won bronze for England at Birmingham 2022, and the strong performances by English and Scottish teams in 2018 and 2022. The exclusion of beach volleyball from the 2026 programme is not only a disappointment for our athletes and fans but also a significant setback for the performance pathways that we, alongside our Home Nations partners, have worked hard to establish and continue to develop.
“We sincerely thank Scottish Volleyball for their considerable efforts in advocating for the sport’s inclusion and for their dedication and commitment throughout the process. Additionally, I echo the calls of our English, Northern Irish and Scottish colleagues for all the Home Nations’ sports councils and stakeholders to collaborate with all of British volleyball’s governing bodies to create alternative opportunities for our beach volleyball athletes to compete at a similar level on domestic soil. Such opportunities are essential for sustaining the progress we've made, expanding opportunities for athletes across all four of the Home Nations, and continuing to grow the sport across the UK.”
Please also find the statements from the home nations