Speeches
Thursday, 13 November 2025
Reception for the Adelaide Beach Volleyball World Championships
Rod and I warmly welcome the athletes and supporters, along with official guests, to Government House to celebrate the 2025 Beach Volleyball World Championships.
We are proud to be joint patrons of this event which is being hosted in Adelaide for the first time.
In fact, this is the first time the Beach Volleyball World Championships has been held south of the equator.
We are proud Adelaide was chosen for this pinnacle event on the beach volleyball calendar and we are confident you will enjoy your time here.
We understand athletes have come from more than 50 countries to participate in this event.
As elite athletes, you have dedicated enormous time, resources and energy to competing in this event. You have developed partnerships based on trust and respect, and honed verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
For the next ten days, all your hard work will play out on a world stage, with an expected 75,000 spectators watching on the sidelines, and millions more streaming matches from home.
If anyone wasn’t aware of Beach Volleyball, last year’s Paris Olympics would have made sure they were. It was a standout sport of the Olympics.
Spectators were dazzled by the sheer athleticism of the players, the skilful blocking and spiking, and the chemistry and communication between partners – with centre court set against the iconic backdrop of the Eiffel Tower.
Some players even displayed new skills, including Sweden’s gold medallist, David Ahmed, who celebrated his team’s victory with a dance.
What we can expect is tightly contested, highly skilled play with 192 of the best male and female athletes – including Olympic Gold medallists and World Champions.
It is worth noting that beach volleyball is one of the few sports where men and women are rewarded equally for their achievements.
I recognise the efforts of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball in promoting gender equality on and off the court.
It is good to see Australia well represented in this competition with 18 athletes, including five South Australians.
We have always been competitive in international beach volleyball, and Australian athletes and fans will be hoping for some victories at these Championships.
Adelaide’s two exceptional facilities, The Drive and Pinky Flat, will bring beach culture to the heart of the city, generating a vibrant festival atmosphere.
The Green and Gold Super Sessions will feature some of the best Australian beach volleyball players, as well as a lineup of some of Australia’s best-loved musicians including Baker Boy, Keli Holiday and Mitch Tambo.
There is so much to look forward to over the next ten days of competition for athletes and fans alike.
Staging an event of this size and significance is only possible with the work of many dedicated people and organisations.
Thank you to the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball, Volleyball Australia, the local advisory committee, and sponsors for bringing this event together.
We look forward to watching the world’s best beach volleyballers battle it out.
Best wishes to all of you for a successful competition.