North Elba’s new beach volleyball and pickleball courts for lacrosse are on view Tuesday. (Business photo – Andy Flynn)
LAKE PLACID – This village will no longer host the International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Championship Beach Volleyball event starting Aug. 24 to 28. Instead, the tournament will be held in Maceio, Brazil from Sept. 6 to 10.
Meanwhile, the town of North Elba will continue to complete all four courts: two for beach volleyball and two for pickleball, according to town manager Derek Doty. Site work on four beach volleyball courts has begun in lacrosse fields adjacent to the international tournament venue.
When Adirondack Sports Council Executive Director Ashley Walden and FISU officials agreed to cancel the international competition in May, there was no press release, according to Jon Lundin, head of communications for the 2023 Winter World University Games, which is being organized by the ASC. In fact, a statement was issued on May 13 — but it was only sent to media outlets asking about the change in location, Lundin said Tuesday. It has not been sent to as many media outlets as the rest of the ACS publications.
“This was the idea of both FISU and the Adirondack Sports Council,” Walden said in his voice. “This was a very difficult decision to make, but it is very important for the council and FISU to use our strength, efforts and resources for the 31st FISU World University Winter Games.”
The Games will be held from January 12 to 22, 2023.
The FISU World University Championship Beach Volleyball event will include 32 men’s and women’s teams from 30 countries. It has been held every two years since 2002 and was last held in 2018, in Munich, Germany.
The Adirondack Sports Council used the volleyball tournament as a test to prepare for the 2023 Games, but it was not required by FISU, Lundin said.
The 2022 FISU World University Speed Skating Championship event in Lake Placid last March was a test event for the 2023 Games. Test events help organizers improve regional systems such as accreditation, medical care and transportation.
On March 31, Lundin told the Lake Placid News that the volleyball tournament was to be held on soon-to-be-built courts at the Lake Placid Club’s old tennis courts, even though work on the courts had already begun. lacrosse fields.
Doty said there are some volleyball fans in Lake Placid who were sad to see the world championship move to Brazil.
“Since that time, the local people have been complaining that beach volleyball is coming,” Doty said, “So the town has agreed to install two volleyball courts on the beach, instead of four, and the other two courts that were planned have been converted to pickleball.”
The beach volleyball courts should be completed in August, and the pickleball courts are expected to be completed in September, according to Doty. Work to be completed includes installing nets and fences, sanding the volleyball courts and pouring concrete pavers for the pickleball courts.
Doty said he hopes to submit a request for funds to the town of North Elba Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund to pay for the fences.
The town will pay up to $3,500 for sand for all volleyball courts and $12,000 for concrete pads for all pickleball courts, according to Doty.
A volunteer group will pay for beach volleyball nets, racquets, balls, lining, etc. The volunteers include Lake Placid High School volleyball coach Donna Moody and retired Sarah Galvin.
“The town felt very good about supporting this for the volleyball game, especially because they want to encourage the adults and encourage the kids to come there and start playing the game,” he said. Doty said.
Previous work on the courts was supported by organizers of the 2023 Lake Placid Games, according to Doty.
“This will help transform the lacrosse fields into a high-use facility,” Doty said, “Because people are asking every day about the pickleball courts. The need for beach volleyball has never been seen, but I know there’s a great team from Lake Placid that goes to Tupper Lake almost every week in the summer to play.”
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