Volleyball is a favourite pastime for many beach-goers, but with the sand variety of the game introduced to the Olympics for the first time at Atlanta, it may be time for Shek O and Stanley regulars to throw away their buckets, spades and barbecue sticks and get in training for 2000. In the meantime the Kent Beach Volleyball Four-Man Championships get underway today in Victoria Park.
Australian Liane Fenwick is to take part in a women's doubles demonstration at the weekend. Liane, 25, fresh from Atlanta, is already focused on the 2000 Games in her home city, Sydney.
What's on your mind now that the Olympics are over? I've had to go straight into the World Championship series which started in Osaka last weekend. I haven't had the chance to go home and talk to all my loved ones about the Olympics, which were the pinnacle of my career. I've also missed out on all the welcome home celebrations, which has been disappointing. After the closing ceremony, everyone was a little down in the mouth as they realised that it was all over for another four years. But I'm glad to see Hong Kong for the first time. I've only been in transit here before.
How did you fare in Atlanta? We came seventh after being seeded 10th. We had a difficult draw and had to go against gold medal winners Brazil, but lost narrowly. I've just got a new partner and we got a bronze in Osaka, which so far is my best finish. My goal is to win a medal in 2000. I've only been playing on the world circuit for a year and a half so I'm relatively inexperienced. But I still have four years to prepare for Sydney.
What's your first impression of Hong Kong? I got here on Monday and have mainly just walked around Victoria Park. It's a great park, in among all the skyscrapers. Yesterday I went to Repulse Bay, which is beautiful. I'm looking forward to doing some hiking and we're trying to get out there to do some shopping. Everybody here is very friendly and you appreciate that when you're away from home.
Away from sport what do you do? I'm a physiotherapist. But I haven't worked for the past 18 months because of beach volleyball. I figure I'll have time to be a physiotherapist later in life. I can't be going for a gold medal when I'm in my 30s. It's now or never.
