Speeches
Sunday, 23 November 2025
2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships Finals Pre-function
It is a pleasure to be here with you ahead of the finals of the World Beach Volleyball Championships.
To our interstate and overseas officials, dignitaries and competitors, we hope you have thoroughly enjoyed this competition and your time in Adelaide.
While Central Beach District has been an incredibly vibrant place to be over the past days, Rod and I hope you also took the opportunity to venture beyond and discover why Adelaide is one of the most liveable cities in the world.
With 190 of the world’s top beach volleyball players, their teams and supporters here, and many millions streaming the competition from afar, the eyes of the volleyball world have been on Adelaide.
We have been excited and proud to host a sporting event of this scale and significance.
As the first World Beach Volleyball Championships hosted in the southern hemisphere, the stakes were high and all of you have made this a resounding success.
The organisers transformed the heart of the city into ‘Central Beach District’ beach and kept the competition running smoothly.
Spectators passionate barracking helped teams clinch victory.
Entertainers sustained the party atmosphere.
And, most importantly, the athletes competed hard to deliver thrilling matches across the week.
You have been excellent ambassadors for the sport, no doubt converting many more spectators and participants to the joys of beach volleyball.
You have represented this sport and your countries with honour, pride and enthusiasm.
We wish all you the very best as you return to home base or continue your travels, and hope to see you competing back here in Australia at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
Congratulations to the Beach Volleyball National Training Centre at the South Australian Sports Institute which was recently recognised by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball as an International Centre of Excellence[1].
International championships like this generate fierce competition and intense rivalries.
Alongside that, there is often a spirit of camaraderie between players and teams based on a shared love of the sport and a drive to do your best.
We have witnessed both this week and Rod and I thank you all for contributing to this incredible atmosphere which somehow manages to be blend of fierce and festive.
We thank all those who have worked behind the scenes to make this competition such a success, among them:
- Fédération Internationale de Volleyball
- Volleyball Australia
- the Local Advisory Committee
- South Australian Tourism Commission
- Sponsors.
Before this competition comes to an end, there are two very important matches to play out – the gold medal games.
Rod and I wish the competitors all the best and look forward to some exciting play.