Papua New Guinea’s young beach volleyball players Leo Aisi and Joe Allen faced a tough challenge in the inaugural Under-18 Oceania Beach Volleyball Championships in Honiara, Solomon Islands, last week.

The 16-year-olds - Aisi, a Grade 10 student at Kila Kila Secondary School, and Allen of St Charles Lywanga Secondary School in the National Capital District - lost to Australia in the final in two straight sets.

The youngsters performed impressively in the tournament, defeating the Solomon Islands team to secure their spot in the grand final.

They also showed their strength by winning against teams from Tonga and American Sāmoa, finishing at the top of their group without any losses.

A proud coach, Ula Gima, says, "Our general play was okay, but communication has to be loud and clear for them to hear each other and understand each other. But I am proud of them.

"We had our first games against American Sāmoa and won 2-0 and beat Solomon Islands team one, 2-0, and played Sāmoa and won 2-0."

Edward Aisi, the president of the PNG Volleyball Federation (PNGVF), praised the young duo for their hard work and dedication.

Aisi says he was thrilled to see them excel on the international stage. “It’s fantastic to see them performing exceptionally well at the international level.”

Solomon Islands took out the bronze medal.

LA28: Beach volleyball plan killed

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Olympic organisers have had to change plans over where beach volleyball competitions will be held.

The organisers originally hoped to use the scenic Santa Monica State Beach, known as the birthplace of beach volleyball.

But talks between the city and the Olympic organisers broke down after they couldn't agree on important issues, including community benefits and financial support.

Santa Monica's Mayor, Lana Negrete, expressed disappointment but remains excited about the upcoming Olympics and its benefits to the region.

LA28 organisers had hoped to build a temporary venue next to Santa Monica's famed pier. Photo/Supplied

A recent report by city officials revealed that hosting the beach volleyball event at the 2028 Olympics could lead to a significant financial loss of US$1.45 million (NZ$25m), prompting local leaders to prefer directing funds towards community improvements such as public services and supporting affordable housing.

Despite the setback, local cities like Long Beach and Huntington Beach hope to step in. Both cities are excited about the opportunity to host Olympic events, which could offer long-term benefits.

Huntington Beach hopes to host surfing competitions, while Long Beach aims to host various sports in its existing facilities.

The 2028 Olympics is scheduled from 14-30 July. Pacific Island nations, including Vanuatu, Sāmoa, Solomon Islands, PNG, Fiji, Cook Islands, and Tonga, participated in beach volleyball at the Paris Olympics in 2024.