AUSTRALIA: SYDNEY OLYMPICS: BONDI BEACH VOLLEYBALL

(16 Sep 2000) English/Nat
XFA
The Olympic beach volleyball competition got underway on Saturday without the promised demonstrations to disrupt the Games taking place.
On a sunny Saturday spectators and players from all nations expressed their view that Bondi Beach was the perfect venue for a tournament of this importance.
Bondi beach is probably the most famous beach in the world.
It's a mecca for surfers from all over the globe.
Now it also has the chance to be famous for beach volleyball.
The Olympic venue is an impressive stadium and certainly for Sonia Dosoudelova of the Czech team the facilities are first class. After all she and partner Eva Celbova impressively won their match against the Dutch pair in straight sets.
Sonia also believes that despite local protests that claim the stadium is an eyesore and environmentally damaging, Bondi is the right place to play the Olympic competition.
SOUNDBITE: (Czech)
"Although they say it is poor for the environment it appears to be perfect. I don't know why they protest."
SUPERCAPTION: Sonia Dosoudelova, Czech beach volleyball player
Certainly spectators seemed to be enjoying the experience.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Personally I think it's perfect. It's one of the most famous beaches in all Australia. It's the most perfect spot to have the Olympics beach volleyball event more or less. From an internationalist's standpoint being an international over here it just makes the atmosphere even better. I really enjoyed it."
SUPERCAPTION: USA beach volleyball fan
As you might imagine the Australian fans were there in force and leaving nobody in any doubt who they were there to support.
It also appears that perhaps those local protestors might have reacted a little too quickly when plans were announced to build this venue on the Australia's most famous beach.
Visiting fans agreed that Bondi was the ideal spot.
SOUNDBITE:(English)
"It does change the beach a little bit but you can see what Bondi is like and I don't really think it is a big drama and I think once it went up a lot of the locals did actually like it in the end. Well it was something that when it was described it did seem like it was going to be a bit of an eyesore but I think they've done really well with how they've placed it and it gives foreigners, you know visitors to our a country a really good insight to Australian culture" (laughs)
SUPERCAPTION: Australian beach volleyball fan
SOUNDBITE: (French)
"It's a nice stadium and it's something good for the beach and the people."
SUPERCAPTION: French beach volleyball fan
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"I don't think there is anything wrong because the Olympics happen only once. It's a big event and I don't think it should be seen as a major problem."
SUPERCAPTION: Mexican beach volleyball fan
The Brazilian team are hotly tipped to take gold in the women's event.
Fans arriving were hoping for some spectacular action.
One fan, originally from Brazil but now living in Canberra expressed a view more shaped by the local issues than some visitors who know Bondi by fame alone.
SOUNDBITE: (Portuguese)
"It's a great opportunity for people in Bondi to see Olympic beach volleyball but perhaps the venue should have been built at Monly where there is more space than at Bondi."
SUPERCAPTION: Portuguese beach volleyball fan
It seems the Bondi stadium has been given the thumbs up by almost all sections of the community.
Spectators and fans are certainly pleased.
The surfers are still here too and don't seem too upset about having to share their spectacular beach.
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