When to watch beach volleyball during the 2024 Paris Olympics
Beach volleyball originated on the beaches of Santa Monica, California. The first beach volleyball tournament took place in 1947 and then the sport slowly, but steadily, began to grow. Beach volleyball made its Olympic debut at the 1996 Atlanta Games and remains popular today.
Beach volleyball is played by two teams of two players. The first team to win two sets win the match. The first two sets are played to 21 points and the third set is played to 15 points, if necessary.
The United States and Brazil have dominated the sport’s history, with Brazil winning three gold medals and the U.S. securing six total. April Ross and Alix Klineman won the fourth gold medal for the U.S. in the last five Games at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Team USA will look to continue their success at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with matches set to take place between July 27 - August 10.
Venues
Beach volleyball will take place at none other than Eiffel Tower Stadium. A temporary outdoor arena is scheduled to be built in 2024 to stage men’s and women’s beach volleyball and blind football in the Paralympic Games. Extending from the Eiffel tower to the École Militaire, this large public park at heart of the capital’s 7th arrondissement will allow everyone to enjoy the venue’s iconic setting.
For Parisians, the Champ de Mars is a place for people to come together and celebrate, regularly attracting thousands to enjoy events together. People meet up to walk around the vast alleyways and lawns, which is now one of Paris' most iconic gardens. Between the Ecole Militaire's façade to the south and the Eiffel Tower on the River Seine side, the Champ de Mars will continue to serve as a community space during the 2020 Tokyo Games as Eiffel Tower Stadium will invite many to witness the spirit of the Games. The Champ de Mars will also serve an important role in the Games as it will also host other events in the Grand Palais Overlay.
| Date | Event | Time (ET) |
| July 27 | Men's and Women's Preliminary Phase Session 1 (2 Matches) Session 2 (2 Matches) Session 3 (2 Matches) |
8a-10a 12n-2p 4p-6p |
| July 28 | Men's and Women's Preliminary Phase Session 1 (4 Matches) Session 2 (3 Matches) Session 3 (3 Matches) |
3a-7a 9a-12n 2p-5p |
| July 29 | Men's and Women's Preliminary Phase Session 1 (4 Matches) Session 2 (3 Matches) Session 3 (3 Matches) |
3a-7a 9a-12n 2p-5p |
| July 30 | Men's and Women's Preliminary Phase Session 1 (4 Matches) Session 2 (3 Matches) Session 3 (3 Matches) |
3a-7a 9a-12n 2p-5p |
| July 31 | Men's and Women's Preliminary Phase Session 1 (4 Matches) Session 2 (3 Matches) Session 3 (3 Matches) |
3a-7a 9a-12n 2p-5p |
| August 1 | Men's and Women's Preliminary Phase Session 1 (4 Matches) Session 2 (3 Matches) Session 3 (3 Matches) |
3a-7a 9a-12n 2p-5p |
| August 2 | Men's and Women's Preliminary Phase Session 1 (4 Matches) Session 2 (3 Matches) Session 3 (3 Matches) |
3a-7a 9a-12n 2p-5p |
| August 3 | Men's and Women's Preliminary Phase Session 1 (4 Matches) |
3a-7a |
| Men's and Women's Preliminary Phase Men's or Women's Lucky Loser Session 2 (3 Matches) |
10a-1p |
|
| Men's and Women's Lucky Losers Session 3 (3 Matches) |
3p-6p |
|
| August 4 | Men's and Women's Round of 16 Session 1 (2 Matches) Session 2 (2 Matches) Session 3 (2 Matches) Session 4 (2 Matches) |
3a-5a 7a-9a 11a-1p 3p-5p |
| August 5 | Men's and Women's Round of 16 Session 1 (2 Matches) Session 2 (2 Matches) Session 3 (2 Matches) Session 4 (2 Matches) |
3a-5a 7a-9a 11a-1p 3p-5p |
| August 6 | Men's and Women's Quarterfinals Session 1 (2 Matches) Session 2 (2 Matches) |
11a-1p 3p-5p |
| August 7 | Men's and Women's Quarterfinals Session 1 (2 Matches) Session 2 (2 Matches) |
11a-1p 3p-5p |
| August 8 | Men's and Women's Semifinals Session 1 (2 Matches) Session 2 (2 Matches) |
11a-1p 3p-5p |
| August 9 | Men's or Women's Medal Matches TBA | 3p-6p |
| August 10 | Men's or Women's Medal Matches TBA | 3p-6p |
Olympic beach volleyball athletes to watch on Team USA
Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes
Former USC teammates Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes are riding high after winning the 2023 World Championships. The pair won won the first two women's NCAA beach volleyball titles ever but split and chose different partners ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. The duo is now back and are looking to help the U.S. earn a women's beach volleyball medal for the sixth straight Olympics.
Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss
Another pair of college teammates, Tayrn Kloth and Kristen Nuss finished third at the 2023 World Championships. The two LSU products mostly train in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and are the first U.S. beach volleyball team that does not primarily train in California. Kloth and Nuss won the 2021 NCAA beach volleyball championship, going 36-0 at LSU in 2021, with 32 of those victories coming in straight sets.
Miles Evans and Chase Budinger
Former NBA player Chase Budinger retired from professional basketball in 2018 and has since pursed beach volleyball, is looking to become the first person to ever play an NBA regular season game and Olympics beach volleyball. A Volleyball Magazine National Player of the Year in high school, Budinger will be joined by California, Santa Barbara product Miles Evans. The two started playing together in 2023 and enter Paris ranked No. 13 in the world.
Miles Partain and Andy Benesh
Miles Partain (22) and Andy Benesh (29) will become the youngest U.S. Olympics beach volleyball team in history, with Partain set to be come the youngest American to ever compete in Olympics beach volleyball. The duo first teamed up in 2022, and defeated Tokyo Olympics champions Anders Mol and Christian Sorum of Sweden at an Elite16 event in July 2023. They reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Championships, and are hoping to earn a medal as outside contenders in the men's side.