The golden sands of Camps Bay have turned into a global sporting stage this week, with the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Elite16 bringing world-class beach volleyball action to the heart of Cape Town’s coastline.
With the backdrop of Table Mountain framing the sandy courts, some of the best beach volleyball players in the world are gearing up for the knockout stages of the prestigious tournament, which get underway today.
For local players, fans, and organisers alike, this event is about more than just points and podiums — it’s about showcasing Cape Town’s unique energy and inspiring the next generation of South African athletes.
The Elite16 series, known as the pinnacle of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour, features elite men’s and women’s teams from across the globe. Their skill, athleticism, and teamwork have dazzled crowds since the opening serves earlier this week. Yet beyond the competition, the spotlight has also shone brightly on the local volleyball scene.
For South Africa, hosting an event of this magnitude is both a statement and an opportunity. Local teams and development programmes have been integrated into the tournament through clinics and open practice sessions, allowing aspiring young players to learn from the very best.
South African Olympian and local hero Grant Goldschmidt said it’s massive for Cape Town and South Africa to host such an international event.
“This is the Elite16, and we have 24 of the best teams from across the world playing in it,” said Goldschmidt.
OUR Pool Winners in Cape Town! 🇿🇦🔥
Thamela/Victoria 🇧🇷
Gottardi/Orsi Toth, R. 🇮🇹
Müller/Tillmann 🇩🇪
Anouk/Zoé 🇨🇭
Tina/Anastasija 🇱🇻
Bock/Lippmann 🇩🇪These teams finished on top to punch their direct tickets to the Round of 12!
🏐#Beachvolleyball #BeachProTourCapeTown pic.twitter.com/i3vhrbkVN1
— Beach Volleyball World (@BeachVBWorld) October 24, 2025
“The only tournaments above this are the World Championships and the Olympic Games. You can’t get any better than this with the top athletes gracing our shores. For our local volleyball players and supporters, it’s also an opportunity to rub shoulders with them, when they mostly only get to see them on TV.
“When youngsters get to see their heroes in action, that’s something inspirational and a big motivation for them. Hopefully, it will lead them to aspire to something one day. I was there once, and I know they’ll enjoy it.”
Goldschmidt, who represented South Africa at the 2012 Olympics, 2022 Commonwealth Games and several World Championship tournaments, added that it’s personally a big moment for him too. As a youngster, he came through the local beach volleyball community before earning a national call-up and eventually becoming an Olympian.
TINA 🇱🇻 SHOCKS THE FIELD! 🤯
The phenomenal blocker surprised everyone by using a barrage of massive skyballs, powering her and her partner Anastasija to a dominant 2-0 victory (21-16, 21-18) over Stam/Schoon 🇳🇱!
What a clutch performance! 👏
🏐#BeachProTourCapeTown pic.twitter.com/eyc6H449Fx
— Beach Volleyball World (@BeachVBWorld) October 24, 2025
According to him, plenty of hard work was done from a local perspective to realise the dream of hosting an internationally acclaimed tournament in the Mother City.
He explained that about two years of behind-the-scenes work by fellow Olympian and South African Leo Williams, along with other key figures in the sport, made the event possible.
“There were plenty of guarantees that had to be made, with the financial one probably the biggest,” Goldschmidt said.
“So, it’s well done to all the leaders of our sport and the partners who made it possible. It’s a massive event for South Africa. A lot of hard work has gone into making this event possible, and we’re really excited to host it and show the world what Cape Town has to offer.”
With the world’s elite battling it out for glory under Cape Town’s iconic skies, the stage is perfectly set for a memorable weekend. But for many, the true victory will come long after the final whistle — when the dust settles, and a new generation of South African volleyball players steps onto the sand, inspired by what they’ve seen at Camps Bay.
The Elite16 finals will be played tomorrow, bringing down the curtain on a week that has combined elite sport, community engagement, and a reminder that Cape Town’s beaches aren’t just for sunbathing.
