Fort Lauderdale, USA, February 8, 2017 - A group of athletes had the innovative idea of setting up a volleyball court on Santa Monica Beach in the 1930s, giving birth to the sport of beach volleyball.
It is therefore only natural that beach volleyball would be played in Santa Monica, California if Los Angeles were chosen to host the 2024 Olympics.
“Olympics should be at iconic places, and for beach volleyball, Santa Monica is one of the most iconic places ever,” said Kerri Walsh Jennings, a three-time Olympic champion who serves on the LA2024 Athletes’ Advisory Commission.
A temporary 12,000-seat arena would be built near the Santa Monica Pier. The Santa Monica Pier, which has been featured in more than 100 movies, is home to an amusement park and the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel. The Ferris wheel was recently lit up in the shape of the LA2024 angel.
Santa Monica Pier is a short walk from the Third Street Promenade, a popular outdoor shopping district. It is easily accessible from downtown Los Angeles via the Metro’s Expo Line, which opened in 2016.
“There’s a very active, healthy lifestyle around there,” said two-time Olympic medalist April Ross, who is also on the LA2024 Athletes’ Advisory Commission. “It’s a fun beach to be at.”
Los Angeles is far from the only 2024 Olympic finalist that would host beach volleyball in a picturesque location.
Paris would host beach volleyball at Champ de Mars at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
“Beach volleyball is always at an impressive location at the Olympics, but beach volleyball at the Eifel Tower would be pretty special,” said France’s Alexandra Jupiter, who grew up in France and then attended the University of Southern California. “It would be impressive to me, and I’ve been there. I can’t imagine how impressive it would be for someone who’s never been there.”
Budapest, Hungary would host the sport at the Liget Beach Volleyball Center, with the Vajdahunyad Castle in the background.
The IOC is scheduled to award the 2024 Olympics in September.
