The 2019 Association of National Olympic Committees World Beach Games were ushered in with fanfare at a May 24 press conference attended by local and international dignitaries at Mission Beach.
In 2019, from Oct. 10-15, more than 1,300 athletes from around the world will be competing in 15 action sports during six days of competition on sand and water from Ventura Place and south to the jetty.
“It was approximately three years ago today that San Diego began the process for bidding for the inaugural World Beach Games,” said Vincent Mudd, Local Organizing Committee president of the games to be held next year. “These games are going to be an innovative sports platform that incorporates vibrant beach, water and action sports that are part of San Diego, some of which originated here.”
Noting beach sports are “part of our daily lifestyle, what we affectionately call ‘Tuesday’ in San Diego,” Mudd added that being awarded the 2019 games is “a testament to the authentic, youthful energy that our region and our state presents, the culture and diversity from our tribal nations to our Cali-Baja mega region.” “[The beach games] will be a sports platform with a purpose,” Mudd said, “the focus will be on sustainability through our clean water and clean games.” He added the games will be “an innovation showcase of cutting-edge technology deployed at the beach, which will play a key role in every aspect of these games.”
Sports will include a triathlon, basketball, BMX cycling, climbing, beach handball, karate, sailing, skateboarding, beach soccer, surfing, open-water swimming, beach tennis, beach volleyball, waterskiing and wrestling.
Gunilla Lindberg, Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) secretary general and IOC executive board member, said the event will be “the first global beach games but not the first beach games in the world.” Pointing out 206 international Olympic committees will be participating, Lindberg characterized Mission Beach as “the perfect place for the athletes,” adding “we need something hip and competitive, young people want to compete and have fun.”
Timothy Fok, chair of the ANOC Coordination Commission for San Diego, noted the beachfront “has all the natural conditions for beach games,” adding, “many of the sports activities were born here. Sustainability is also a very important message, clean games is an important part of that development.”
Comforting guests while pointing out San Diego’s typical “May gray” will give way to sunshine by October, District 2 Councilmember Lorie Zapf, said, “This partnership is going to benefit our local economy so much.” Praising ANOC for “engaging the local community,” Zapf said, “I believe the World Beach Games are going to be a page turner for San Diego.”
Nick Perera, captain of the United States national beach soccer team, noted it is one of the fastest-growing sports for those age 33 and under. “We’re excited about the games coming here and hope to showcase the best of beach soccer and our team as well,” said Perera.
Mike McDowell, San Diego Sports Commission president, describing the World Beach Games as “a big deal with long-term ramifications,” pointed out San Diego is a major international destination with 32 million visitors annually.
McDowell said the World Beach Games “will show why San Diego is America’s finest city.”