Visa FIVB Beach Volleyball International

[1] The event saw 54 matches played but, although prize money was available, no ranking points were on offer, as it was classified as an intercontinental exhibition.

[12][13] Natalie Cook said that the situation reminded her of the 1996 Summer Olympics, where she had to play in the bronze medal match after a bomb had been detonated.

[16] On day two they played Santiago and Acevedo of Puerto Rico, going a set and 2–8 down and saving 3 match points before winning in 56 minutes.

[17][18][19] In the group decider, the British pair struggled at first but rallied and eventually won, although Mullin received a yellow card for disputing a line call.

[21] Meanwhile, the young Dutch pair Sinnema and Wiltens exited the competition after a straight-sets loss to Roubains and Papageorgiou.

[39] [23] British pair Boulton and Johns won the first match in the group with a straight sets win over Broder and Voth from Canada.

Hunkus and Lowe (US), Simon and García Gonzalo (Spain), MacTavish and Rodrigue (Canada) and Roubanis and Papageorgiou (Greece) competed for the final two places in the last 16, which were won by the Spanish and Canadian teams.

[70] Cunha and Lima were the first pair to reach the semi-finals, defeating Cook and Hinchley in the final set after missing four match points.

In the other match, Americans Kessy and Ross took the first set 21–13, but Britain's Boulton and Johns took the second – the first time they had done so in four meetings between these two teams.

A closely fought final set reached a score of 13–13, but the Brazilians won the next two points to achieve their first win over the Americans in 2011.

[92] [95] The event was praised by both spectators and the press, and British Olympic Association chief executive Andy Hunt suggested that a beach volleyball competition should be held in London every year,[96] adding: "We've proved to the world that despite the incidents earlier in the week, ... all of the test events coped well and it's an opportunity to learn from that experience.

"[97] London Evening Standard journalist Dan Jones commented: "I'm not sure that beach volleyball will ever be a direct solution for civil unrest and mob rule but it sure as hell diverts your mind from the aftermath.

"[60] David Luckes, Head of Sport Competition at LOCOG, called the atmosphere "fantastic", and Vicente Araujo, Technical Delegate and FIVB Beach Volleyball Commission secretary, said the venue was "inspirational".