WITH FULL SUPPORT OF THE IOC BEHIND HIM, FIVB PRESIDENT RUBEN ACOSTA HAD THE THE STATE OF GEORGIA SCRAMBLING TO PRODUCE A BEACH VOLLEYBALL EVENT CAPABLE OF MEETING HIS LOFTY EXPECTATIONS.

AS CONSTRUCTION WOES PERSISTED, THE QUALIFICATION PROCESS PROVED CONTROVERSIAL. THE AVP WAS MADE TO FEEL SMALL AS THE FIVB ENFORCED THE IOC’S RULING THAT THEY CONTROL THE OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION PROCESS.

AS THE UPPER BRASS BETWEEN THE AVP AND FIVB BATTLED IT OUT, OVERSHADOWING THE ENTIRELY OF THIS SPORT’S MOMENTOUS INTRODUCTION WAS A DISPUTE MADE PUBLIC BETWEEN THE SPORT’S TWO BIGGEST STARS AND FORMER PARTNERS, KARCH KIRALY AND SINJIN SMITH. BUT AS THEY SAY, “EVEN BAD PUBLICITY IS GOOD PUBLICITY.” BEACH VOLLEYBALL VIEWERSHIP WAS PHENOMENAL. THIS WAS THE ROCKET THE SPORT HAD BEEN WAITING TO CATCH.

AND WHILE THE 1996 ATLANTA OLYMPICS HAD UNDOUBTEDLY MARKED A CHANGE IN THE SPORT OF BEACH VOLLEYBALL, SOMETHING FAR GREATER EXTENDED BEYOND THE USUAL MILESTONES. IT ALSO MARKED A POINT IN TIME THAT SAW, PER ESPN, “FEMALE ATHLETES BEING MARKETED LIKE NEVER BEFORE. AFTER THE GAMES, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED AND CONDE NAST STARTED THEIR OWN WOMEN’S SPORTS MAGAZINES AND FOUR DOMESTIC PRO LEAGUES LAUNCHED (FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL, SOCCER, AND TWO FOR BASKETBALL).

NOT ALL OF THEM SURVIVED, BUT WOMEN’S SPORTS HAD CLEARLY ARRIVED.”