Chamberlink July August 21

Page 11

1. Chamberlink July Aug 1-30.qxp_Chamberlink 29/06/2021 11:53 Page 11

Chamberlink special: 12 months until the Games

Business News

Beach sport set to be an unlikely Games highlight If you were under the impression that beach volleyball was something you did in your Speedos on a Spanish beach, think again. Twins Javier and Joaquin Bello will be among the leading contenders in the Commonwealth Games event being staged at the former Smithfield Market site in Birmingham. Chamberlink deputy editor DAN HARRISON spoke to the twins about their hopes in a competition that couldn’t be further from the sea. By Dan Harrison s one of the most landlocked parts of the UK, Birmingham would seem an unlikely venue for an international showcase of beach volleyball. But Commonwealth Games hopefuls Javier and Joaquin Bello believe a wave of youngsters from the second city could be inspired to take up the sport on the back of next summer’s spectacle. The Bello twins are the highestplaced English team in beach volleyball’s world rankings and hope to go for gold on the purpose-built sand court at Smithfield in 12 months time. The former Smithfield wholesale markets site, in the shadow of the iconic Bullring and Rotunda buildings in Birmingham city centre, will also host the Games’ basketball and wheelchair basketball competitions. Born in Madrid, the Bello twins moved to London at the age of 10 and have been at the vanguard of the English volleyball effort since their teens, cleaning up at national tournaments, as well as claiming gold at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas. For the duo, who turn 21 this month, Birmingham 2022 presents an opportunity for personal glory and to pique interest in a sport that only made its Commonwealth

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Games bow three years ago on Australia’s Gold Coast. “It’s a great opportunity to showcase our sport,” said Javier, “to have people watching, to have people being inspired to play and to leave some kind of legacy. “That’s one of our goals – not just to compete but give a good image of our sport.” Beach volleyball remains a minority sport on these shores, with England some way behind traditional powerhouses like Brazil, Germany, the United States and the current No.1 team from Norway. Joaquin points out: “Since London 2012 beach volleyball hasn’t had much exposure, so Birmingham 2022 is a great opportunity for it to be seen again in the UK and for it to grow.”

Dan Harrison

Team England: Javier and Joaquin with other members of Team England Lauren Huggins and Victoria Palmer

‘Birmingham could be a new hub for beach players’ With Volleyball England yet to determine its selection criteria, the Bello twins must wait to learn of their prospects for Birmingham 2022. Nevertheless, they are excited by the impact the Games could have on Birmingham, in terms of increased participation and new facilities. “There are some volleyball clubs in the area – just not beach volleyball courts,” adds Javier.

“This will provide a chance to build some courts in the area after the games. After London 2012, they used the sand and some of the equipment to build facilities around London – we train in one of those now. “So I think the Games could have a similar effect in Birmingham and help to spread the sport around England a bit more. “At the moment, most of the players live in London and the south. Birmingham could be a new hub for beach players.”

All action: Javier rises to the challenge

Focus: Joaquin in action

July/August 2021 CHAMBERLINK 11


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Articles inside

Property: Convention centre to be added at Wasps’ stadium

8min
pages 70-72

Sport: Match is Test for crowd too

4min
page 74

Manufacturing: Output predicted to bounce back

4min
page 73

Member Profile

2min
page 75

Retail: The road to recovery will be long

5min
page 67

Legal: Pandemic fails to dent law firm growth

9min
pages 68-69

Technology: Partnership to deliver cyber security

5min
pages 64-66

Finance: Local economy set to rebound

7min
pages 62-63

Infrastructure scheme will have a rail impact

3min
pages 57-59

Lichfield & Tamworth: New office welcomes

4min
page 44

The skills agenda post-Covid

3min
pages 51-53

Five ways to get your employee wellbeing strategy right

3min
pages 54-56

ABCC: India film festival helps bring back audiences

6min
pages 48-50

Sutton Coldfield: Chamber president to take on marathon

3min
page 45

Solihull: New Moors manager appointed

7min
pages 46-47

Burton & District: Town urged to back library move

4min
page 43

Cannock Chase: Amazon to invest in creative apprenticeships

3min
page 42

Survey highlights the popularity of remote working

10min
pages 30-33

Future Faces: Midlands Air Ambulance Charity join as patrons

3min
page 41

Broadband speeds set to triple

2min
page 29

Commonwealth: Boosting trade with Australia

3min
page 39

Transatlantic: US-UK taskforce is established

3min
page 40

Barriers faced by older women in business

6min
pages 34-35

International: Exploring the state of the global economy

4min
page 38

Aston Hall set to reopen

4min
page 28

Small firms unaware of net zero impact

4min
page 27

Patron manager joins Chamber

3min
page 23

UK economy shows signs of bouncing back

7min
pages 24-26

Expanding regional opportunities

4min
page 18

Temporary boss takes over at local authority

1min
page 19

The Griffin Report

6min
pages 20-21

Firms back on the road to recovery

5min
page 22

Where do you fancy?

1min
pages 16-17

Games can bring new wealth to the region

3min
page 15

NEC prepares for Games

2min
page 7

UCB to host Team Scotland

3min
page 8

University in line for 20,000 visitors a day

2min
pages 9-10

President’s Focus

3min
pages 12-13

Cannock Chase to host mountain biking

4min
page 14

Bringing volleyball to Birmingham

2min
page 11

Transformation at stadium

3min
page 6

Editor’s View

2min
page 4
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