Ghadira and Pretty Bay experienced a feast of beach and water volleyball on Sunday 28th June to commemorate “World Volleyball Day”. The event was attended by a good turn-out of established players, as well as young (and not so young) volleyball enthusiasts who enjoyed a day of beach volleyball at the different venues.

The Malta Volleyball Association put up a number of courts on the sandy beaches but also in the shallow waters at Ghadira to the amusement of all beach goers, for what is believed to be the first “water-volley” event in the world.

This event also marked the official opening of the Beach Volleyball 2009 season. There are 24 events in total this summer ranging from “Masters “beach volley tournaments , 4 vs 4 mixed tournaments, youth “Beach Volley Fun” and recreational activities.

The MVA ensures that during its competitions there is enough space and time provided for those beach goers who wish to participate in this ever growing sport.

The MVA Executive Council had the pleasure to greet distinguished guests including David Agius, MP, who gave an opening speech and participated in a “volley for all” game, and volleyball great Ljubo Travica, former coach of Serbia Montenegro. His achievements as a player and a coach second and third place in the World League, fifth at the Athens Olympics – just to mention a few – are well known worldwide.

MVA President Branko Vlahovic, who played with Travica, in their native Yugoslavia, expressed his wish that this Olympic sport will get its well deserved place in Malta and thanked the Maltese Council for Sport, Mellieha Local Council and the Malta Responsible Gambling Council for their support.