Beach Volleyball pools confirmed for Birmingham 2022

• Beach Volleyball pools for Birmingham 2022 have now been confirmed following the official draw
• Tournament will take place at Smithfield, in Birmingham city centre from 30 July to 7 August
• The announcement comes after the Team England pairs are confirmed, following a selection tournament in London at the end of May

The pools for the beach volleyball tournament that will be held at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games have now been confirmed after the draw was officially completed earlier this month.

The matches which will be held in a purpose-built venue at Smithfield, in the centre of Birmingham, will take place from 30 July with both the men’s and women’s medal matches being held on Sunday 7 August.

In the women’s competition the host nation has been drawn against home nation rivals, Scotland. They will be joined is this pool by the bronze medal winners from Gold Coast 2018, Vanuatu, and Commonwealth Games debutants, the Solomon Islands.

The other two pools will also see some great matches with reigning champions Canada up against New Zealand, Kenya and Ghana in pool A and Australia, who took home silver last time around, will be facing Cyprus, Trinidad and Tobago and Sri Lanka in pool B.

In the men’s competition, Team England will take on Gold Coast 2018 bronze medallists New Zealand, Cyprus and Tuvalu in pool C. The reigning champions Australia have been drawn in pool B and they will face three teams all making their Commonwealth Games debuts: Rwanda, South Africa and the Maldives.

Canada, who secured the silver medal on the Gold Coast four years ago, will be facing teams from The Gambia, St Kitts & Nevis and Sri Lanka in pool A.

The draw confirmation comes hot on the heels of Team England confirming their beach volleyball team for the Games. Following a selection tournament held at the end of May, the four players who will be hoping for home soil success are twin brothers Javier and Joaquin Bello and Daisy Mumby and Jess Grimson.

Jess will be competing at her second Games, having been part of Team England in 2018 when beach volleyball made its Commonwealth Games debut. The Bello brothers head to Birmingham having won gold for Team England at the Youth Commonwealth Games held in the Bahamas 2017.

FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça F° said: “With Birmingham 2022 now less than two months away, the pathway to becoming Commonwealth beach volleyball champions is becoming clearer for the teams and I am sure they are all focused on preparing for this important event.

“The pools that have been drawn will ensure intense and competitive match-ups from the preliminary phase all the way to the final, showcasing the very best of our sport to existing fans and new audiences alike.”

Commonwealth Games Federation President, Dame Louise Martin, said: “The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games are now less than two months away and anticipation is really building. After an exciting draw, we are set for a fantastic beach volleyball tournament at Smithfield, right in the heart of Birmingham's city centre, and I know the world class athletes competing will showcase the very best of Commonwealth Sport.”

Matt Kidson, Director of Sport for Birmingham 2022, said: “We can’t wait to welcome the beach volleyball teams to Birmingham and it’s clear from the draw that there will be some hugely exciting pool matches during this tournament.

“The Smithfield site, where the beach volleyball matches will be played, will be a hive of activity during the Games, as right next door to this venue is the Basketball 3x3 and Wheelchair basketball 3x3 court.

“We know that there will be a fantastic atmosphere at Smithfield during the Games so if you don’t want to miss out on seeing some superb sporting action in an iconic Birmingham 2022 location, then now is the perfect time to purchase your tickets.”

Tickets for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games have been very popular but there are still some tickets available for the beach volleyball tournament. Prices start at £8 for under 16s and £15 for adults. 

The Birmingham 2022 pool draw was hosted at the Library of Birmingham on Tuesday 17 May 2022. The teams were drawn by FIVB Control Committee Member Richard Callicott and the results were verified by FIVB Technical Delegate Ed Drakich.