Perth’s Scottish Open Volleyball Tournament (SOVT) celebrates 40 years of volleyball fun on the North Inch this weekend with a record 151 teams converging on Perth for the popular annual tournament. Many regular teams are back again for what is the largest volleyball tournament in the UK including contingents from Belgium, the Faroe Islands and this year, two teams from India. Around 1200 will be competing in the 7 categories of competition featuring men’s. women’s and mixed divisions with local teams also very much to the fore on the 43 grass courts.
With Bell’s Sports Centre being closed, tournament organisers are grateful for Perthshire Rugby Club’s shower and toilet facilities as well as operational space for the IT equipment used throughout the weekend to sort out which teams qualify for the Trophy competition on Sunday and which teams will be in the consolation competition. Portable Scotloo toilets will also be available adjacent to the campsite area thanks to Perth & Kinross Council stepping in to support the annual sporting event.
Almost one third of the total entries are competing in mixed division 3, with a massive 45 teams competing for the special commemorative glass trophy produced by Perth Trophy Shop for this 40th anniversary competition.
Matches will start at 9:30 on the Saturday morning with most teams being sorted in groups of six, meaning 15 games being played over two courts, with others in groups of five. Sunday games will start at 9 am with sectional games first followed by the knock-out stages of the 7 competitions.
Tournament organisers are hoping the sunny weather continues although there are possible showers on the horizon which may dampen some competitors’ spirits. The tournament offers local people the opportunity to see both the skills and fun that the sport brings to millions around the world with Perth certainly being the world capital of volleyball this special weekend.
