Dublin, Ireland, May 17, 2019. There is only two weeks to go until some of the best Beach Volleyballers in Europe descend on Bettystown for an international Beach Volleyball competition. The Continental Cup is part of the Tokyo 2020 qualifying series and it will see eight teams battle it out to progress to the second stage. The tournament is taking place in Ireland for the first time, and will become one of the first Olympic team qualifying tournaments held on the island.

The event will see Denmark, Estonia and Slovakia join the hosts in the women’s section, whilst Scotland, Ukraine and Lithuania take on Ireland in the men’s draw.  Excitement is building in the Volleyball community as final preparations take shape. President of Volleyball Ireland Grainne Culliton said, “The Continental Cup is a chance in a lifetime opportunity to see an Olympic qualifier taking place in Ireland. It will be a great weekend of sport and we urge everyone to pop to Bettystown and take a look; it is an incredibly exciting sport with some phenomenal athletes on show.”

The Ireland team will be announced next week, but there is an expectation that Izzy Carey will take the no.1 jersey for Ireland in the women’s team. Carey, who represents UCLA in the American College competition, has recently been awarded the prestigious PAC-10 Student Athlete of the Year Award as she led her Californian College to an unprecedented unbeaten season.  Carey added, “I am thrilled to be pulling on the green jersey again and representing Ireland. It gives me enormous pride and I am excited to meet up with the rest of the squad next week.”

The event will include two competition courts as well come try it activities for children and adults. Volleyball Ireland are also running fun blitzes in local schools ahead of the event as well as a Beginners session for adults on the Thursday evening.  Entry is free of charge all weekend with games all day Saturday and Sunday (June 1 and 2).