Volleyball is a unique sport because it is a team sport that can be played by people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. It is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all skill levels, and it is a great way to bring people together. The game is fast-paced and requires a lot of teamwork, communication, and strategy. It is a great way to build relationships and foster a sense of community. Additionally, volleyball is a sport that can be played on any surface.

Volleyball is a globally popular sport; in fact, it is played by 221 countries according to the membership of the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) and made its Olympic debut in 1964 at the Tokyo Games.

On any given Sunday at Loftus Recreation Centre during winter you will see the courts alive with Volleyball and all the different faces of the world. In WA, players from the two top leagues of our indoor competition come from forty-one different countries. Just over 30% of players were not born in Australia and only 30% of the forty-one countries of birth have English as their official language.

Multiculturalism in sport is important because it helps to create an inclusive and diverse environment. It encourages people from different backgrounds to come together and celebrate their differences. It also helps to promote understanding and respect between different cultures, which can lead to greater acceptance and understanding of different cultures. Additionally, it can help to create a more positive and welcoming atmosphere in sport, which can help to encourage more people to participate.

The Volleyball WA Office consists of a diverse mix of cultures from places like Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Mauritius, People’s Republic of China and the USA, in fact almost half of our staff were born overseas or are first generation. We host a Harmony lunch each month in our office using it as an opportunity to learn about and celebrate another culture. Staff donate a gold coin at each Harmony Lunch and the funds at the end of the year are donated to a charity of their choice.

As a sport we celebrate our different cultures at events like Harmony Cup and Country of Origin and in 2023 we will acknowledge Harmony Week on Sunday, March 26 when teams take to the court in a friendly competition.

We hope you take the time to read the stories of some of our athletes , to understand what coming to Australia means to many and how Volleyball has supported that journey of understanding and acceptance.