Venue preparations for Asian Beach Games Sanya 2026 highly praised

In the coastal resort city of Sanya — located in China's southernmost Hainan province — preparations for the Sanya 2026 Games venue have been receiving heaps of praise.

Warm words were flying about during the recent second Futures event of the year of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour in Sanya. Also serving a test event for the 6th Asian Beach Games Sanya 2026, it was staged at the Tianya Haijiao Venue Cluster on March 5-8.

Athletes from 48 teams, representing 15 different countries and regions, came together to compete for the honors. The participants, both local and international, said that they were really impressed with the preparations for the upcoming Games.

A volunteer helps foreign athletes during the test event for the 6th Asian Beach Games Sanya 2026. [Photo/Sanya Daily]

On the first day of the event, Chinese pair Li Wei and Du Hongjun kicked things off with a solid 2-0 victory over their New Zealand counterparts.

After the match, Du, who was experiencing the Sanya venue for the first time, expressed his admiration: "This is my first time competing in Sanya and the venue is top-class."

"The sand and facilities are nearly world-class," he exclaimed.

This heartfelt endorsement really underscores the international quality of Sanya's event infrastructure.

The clear blue waters and pristine sands of Tianya Haijiao are more than just a competition venue — they're a breathtaking sight for athletes.

"This is a stunning beach and it's a real pleasure to play an exciting game in such a beautiful location," said Håvard Solheim, an athlete from Norway.

Michael Tyler from New Zealand was visibly thrilled: "This is our first time competing overseas, and Sanya has blown us away."

"The stunning ocean, clear skies, warm sun, and soft sand create the perfect setting. It feels like this place was made for beach sports," he added.

Sze Hang Kan from Hong Kong, China focused on the details of the venue. "The sand is fine and clean and the space is very open," he declared.

His appreciation of the sand quality and spaciousness resonated with the core requirements of beach volleyball — highlighting the precision and care that has gone into preparing the event.

The consistent praise from athletes is viewed as testament to the meticulous preparation efforts. The Tianya Haijiao Venue Cluster was specifically designed to meet the rigorously high standards set by the Olympic Council of Asia.

It features one main court, two secondary courts, two training courts, and two warm-up courts — along with eight distinct functional areas that cater to all event needs, including media and security.

The venue also uses a zoned management system, where people can access specific areas based on their credentials, ensuring smooth and efficient operations.