Adelaide gets sandy for the Beach Volleyball World Championships!

This children’s article, Adelaide gets sandy for the Beach Volleyball World Championships!, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children build vocabulary, learn about exciting international sports, and discover more about the city of Adelaide. Written by Mark Pulley, a teacher and writer who creates fun and informative news articles for English learners.

A city turns into a beach!

Get ready, Adelaide! From 14 to 23 November 2025, the city will turn into a giant beach for the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships. 

Around 4,000 tonnes of sand have been brought in to transform an area known as Pinky Flat into world-class volleyball courts. For ten thrilling days, fans can watch the best players from around the world compete for glory!

This will be the largest beach volleyball event ever held in Asia or Oceania, with 96 teams from 40 nations competing. Expect music, food, sand sculptures, live art, and a fun festival atmosphere. It’s sport, music, and sunshine all rolled into one!

What is beach volleyball?

Beach volleyball began as a fun seaside game in California in the 1920s, when friends started playing volleyball on the sand. It later spread worldwide, becoming an Olympic sport in 1996. 

Unlike indoor volleyball, beach volleyball has only two players per team, and the soft sand makes jumping and diving easy compared to the hard indoor courts.

The game is played on a smaller court, and players must master skills like quick movement, teamwork, and clever shots. It’s one of the most energetic and entertaining sports to watch, especially when the crowd is cheering and the sun is shining.

What to expect in Adelaide

Adelaide is ready to welcome the world! Australian stars such as Taliqua Clancy, an Olympic silver medallist, and Paul Burnett, a Commonwealth Games gold winner, will lead the home teams. They’ll be joined by other top players, including Izac Carracher, Mark Nicolaidis, Tom Hodges, and Zach Schubert.

The Championships will kick off with the “Green & Gold Super Session” on the opening night, where Aussie teams will face international challengers on Centre Court. 

Music stars Baker Boy, Keli Holiday, and Mitch Tambo will perform live, turning the sporting event into a true beach party.

Spectators can enjoy matches across five courts, visit the Scape Beach Club, explore the Central Beach District, and watch live sand sculptures and street performers. Tickets start from just $25, making it a great family day out.

If you’d like to learn more about the event, you can visit the official FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships 2025 site.

Fun beach volleyball facts

• A volleyball can travel at over 100 kilometres per hour when spiked by top players.
• Beach volleyball players sometimes burn over 900 calories in one match!
• The ball used in beach volleyball is softer and lighter than the one used indoors.
• The sport is so popular that Brazil has hundreds of professional players.
• Beach volleyball was first played at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996.

If you’d like to learn about another cool ball game check out this article about dodgeball.

Article vocabulary list

• Championships – Big competitions where the best teams or players in the world take part.
• Transform – To completely change something’s appearance or form.
• Tournament – A series of games or matches to find the best player or team.
• Spectators – People who watch an event.
• Festival – A celebration with entertainment, food, and music.
• Athlete – A person who is trained or skilled in sports.
• Medallist – Someone who has won a medal in a competition.
• Energetic – Full of energy and excitement.
• Precinct – An area with special buildings or spaces for events.
• Challengers – Players or teams who compete against the favourites.

Comprehension questions

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