Last minute funding ensures Manly’s VolleyFest will run in 2020

VolleyFest, Australia’s premier volleyball tournament will remain at Manly Beach next year following an announcement from the NSW Government and Northern Beaches Council that they will contribute to the $450,000 funding gap left after Destination NSW revealed last week that it would not support the event.

However, while the five-day VolleyFest competition will start on 23rd February next year, uncertainty surrounds whether it will the global volleyball governing body the FIVB’s World Tour event, billed as an important qualifier for Tokyo 2020.

As a result, athletes may not get enough qualifying points to be considered for selection for the 2020  Olympics.

Instead there will be a national championship competition which will still attract international athletes and give Olympic hopefuls the pre-training preparation they need before Toyko 2020.

Introducing the new funding, Volleyball Australia President Craig Carracher said the NSW Government had come up with $250,000 and Northern Beaches Council an extra $25,000 on top of its existing commitment.

Carracher told local newspaper The Manly Daily that the new funding “wasn’t enough to pay for the Wolrd Tour, but what was most important to us what that VolleyFest will still provide preparation for our Olympic hopefuls.

“It will feel like a world event, but it’s not a perfect outcome.

“But what I would say is people have gone above and beyond to help save VolleyFest which was our priority.”

Carracher said he was still working on a way to host the FIVB World Tour somewhere else in Australia.

The 10-day VolleyFest 2020 event will feature the Australian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships, Australian Olympic Team Selection camp, NSW School Beach Volleyball Cup and NSW Junior Beach Volleyball Championships.

Last year when Manly hosted the FIVB World Tour it attracted 10 Olympians.

While ending its funding of VolleyFest, Destination NSW has announced that it will be backing the World Surf League's new Sydney Surf pro at Manly next year.

VolleyFest image courtesy of Volleyball Australia.