IM this article to a friend!

January 10, 2005

Brazil spikes Australia in play-offs

From: The Age, Australia - Jan 10, 2005

By Stathi Paxinos
January 10, 2005

The grunts and come-ons were all there yesterday and, unlike last week, so was the beautiful weather. But most importantly so were the crowds, even if most were transient spectators.

The site of the Deaflympics beach volleyball competition proved a hit yesterday as people walking along the beach path near the St Kilda Baths stopped to check out the action.

The beach volleyball competition may have attracted the crowds only because of novelty value and the fact that there was no charge, but with an Australian team competing in the fifth-sixth play-off against Brazil yesterday, spectators saw an entertaining match.

The Deaflympics has begun to capture a larger media profile and organisers have been happy with the numbers of people buying tickets for the events at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

However, crowds attending the athletics at Olympic Park, especially during morning preliminaries, have at times been sparse.

The Australian beach volleyball pair of Callum Farman and Timothy Clarkson have been playing together for only four months and could not quite match the scramble of the Brazilians, losing in 21-9, 23-21.

Copyright © 2005. The Age Company Ltd.