Tournament’s return spikes amateurs’ interest
With an emphasis on fun over intensity, the return of a popular gas volleyball tournament sparks a growing enthusiasm for the sport in China.
After a year-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the second edition of the Samaranch Cup Gas Volleyball Invitational in Xichang, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, was a testament to the sport’s enduring appeal.
Attracted by gas volleyball’s suitability for all ages, the Samaranch Foundation launched the tournament in 2021. Last week’s competitions, which saw three age-group titles contested, attracted almost 2,000 participants representing 150 teams from 75 cities – more than doubling many as in the first edition.
Developed in the 1980s as a leisurely alternative to competitive indoor volleyball, the gas version of the sport, also known as balloon volleyball, uses larger and lighter balls made of soft materials rather than the standard leather balls. The games are played on a smaller court with a lower net than the regular version, making it easier to learn and more accessible for beginners.
While the action wasn’t exactly high-octane, there was no denying that the Xichang tournament brought out the competitive instincts of amateurs, with spikes smashing with vigor and players chasing points with relentless blocks and saves.
Avid sports fans and regular athletes when they were younger, many of the older participants in the tournament gave credit to the organizers for helping them recapture those memories, emotions and feelings.
“We greatly appreciate the opportunity to compete with all sports fans again after the pandemic, shake off the rust, make new friends and help promote our common interest together,” said Zhang Shu, a player of the Zehua Volleyball Clubs from Shaanxi Province.
As China advances its goal of developing a world-class sporting nation by 2035, gas volleyball is perfectly suited to aspects of the plan aimed at boosting the physical and mental well-being of an aging society.
“This game is easier to learn, fun and suitable for mass promotion across the country,” said Chinese badminton legend Li Lingwei, president of the Samaranch Foundation.
“Holding a tournament like this on a regular basis will definitely bring more people into sports, get more involved and help the whole country stay fit and healthy,” added Li, who is also vice president of the Chinese Olympics Committee and a member of the International Olympics committees.
The Samaranch Foundation, a national non-public body registered with the Ministry of Civil Affairs in Beijing in 2012, was established to commemorate the late former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch.
As gas volleyball is already popular with seniors, the organizers made it a point to get youngsters involved in the game as well. A charity training clinic aimed at getting children excited about the volleyball court was held at this year’s tournament.
Led by Zhang Meiyu, a former professional player with the Sichuan provincial team, 25 volunteers visited an elementary school in a rural area of Xichang on March 8 to introduce gas volleyball to 100 students during an open physical education class. The children were taught basic skills using the tournament’s official match balls, manufactured by Hengjia Sports Goods.
“With these lighter inflatable balls with a soft feel, it’s safer for kids to start from an early age,” Zhang said. “Hopefully the little pass and return session will spark interest and get them excited about the sport of volleyball.”
An exhibition of Olympic memorabilia and a lecture on Olympic history were also organized during this year’s tournament as part of an extra-judicial cultural programme.