Optimism High For Future World Beach Games

(ATR) ANOC sport leaders believe there is a bright future for the World Beach Games brand.

The inaugural edition of the ANOC World Beach Games concluded on Wednesday with athletes from 40 countries taking home medals across 13 beach, water and action sports over six days of competition in Qatar.

"There are many countries that are coming up and are interested," said ANOC secretary general Gunilla Lindberg about potential future hosts of the new multi-sport event. Lindberg's remarks came following the closing of the two-day ANOC General Assembly in Doha.

"I think around January or February we should be ready to announce the next edition or at least have documents from candidates coming with interest."

Lindberg conceded that there was a lack of local fan support at events, particularly over the opening days.Enthusiasm and attendance picked up for the final night of competition, where medals were awarded in all five team events, including a thrilling men’s beach volleyball final in which the hosts Qatar fought valiantly against the U.S. and won a silver medal.

"I don’t think people were really aware of what they could expect, but the second, third and especially the last day there were big crowds everywhere," said the longtime Swedish IOC member.

"It takes time to introduce a new kind of competition and some of the sports were not very well known, but I think they are now."

Lindberg said that reports were that athletes enjoyed themselves and there were no major complaints about the organization and execution of the first time multi-sport event. Athletes were also impressed with their accommodations at the Athletes Village, four luxury high-rise apartments that housed more than 1,200 competitors from 97 nations.

The veteran sports leader also noted that transportation between hotels, the village and venues clusters was efficient and ran smoothly.

Lindberg said further evaluation of the games will be conducted and surveys sent to athletes and NOCs. It seems that ANOC leaders will show flexibility relating to future beach games.

"I think the format of the Games…it’s low budget, it’s not too complicated and the sports – we were working with the IOC – they have Olympic federations, but we have non-Olympic disciplines," Lindberg said.

"Maybe we add some sports, maybe we change some sports. There are many sports that could be coming."

Lindberg, NOC leaders and athletes commended Qatar for an efficient and well-organized Games, particularly impressive considering the short timeframe of just over three months that the hosts had to prepare. The Games were relocated from San Diego after the California city was unable to find private sponsorship to cover a $20 million budget.

U.S. beach volleyball gold medalist Casey Patterson had rave reviews for the host nation.

"This country has been so inviting for us – maybe pushing the limit of the cultural balance with some of the sports," said Patterson, a 2016 Olympian.

"For them to do that and run such a tight knit event, I haven’t experienced anything like this that was done in such a short period of time.

"They can be very proud and we are honored to be a part of it."

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli in Doha, Qatar

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