BEACH volleyball will be played on the Gold Coast’s sand at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, showcasing the city’s premiere attraction to a television audience of 1.5 billion people.

The sport’s inclusion follows an appeal by Games Minister Stirling Hinchliffe to Games Federation president Louise Martin in Brisbane last week.

It brings the list of sports for the 2018 event to 18 — the biggest field since the Games began in 1930.

media_camera Minster for Transport and Commonwealth Games Stirling Hinchliffe, former Olympian Natalie Cook and 2018 Comm Games hopeful Phoebe Bell. Picture: David Clark

Mr Hinchliffe said an “iconic” location would be found and the Bulletin understands sites on the southern Coast are being considered.

“This will be the biggest Games ever held and the first time we are adding a whole new sport which is perfectly placed to promote and tell the Gold Coast’s story,” he said.

“Beach volleyball is a high-energy and exciting sport which is loved and everyone remembers the impact from when it was played on Bondi Beach at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

“The best outcome would be for a location which will best show off the Gold Coast to the world through the media.”

media_camera 2018 Commonwealth Games hopeful Phoebe Bell. Picture: David Clark

Beach volleyball became a Commonwealth Games sport following the Gold Coast’s successful 2011 bid but it had not been expected to debut until the 2022 event in Durban, South Africa.

Surfing was not considered because it is not a Commonwealth Games competition sport.

The deal came three years to the day after the Gold Coast Bulletin revealed the Newman Government’s cost-cutting meant beach volleyball had slipped through the net to miss out on making it to the sporting list.

At the time it was said that hosting the sport would cost $12.5 million but deliver just $5 million in revenue.

media_camera 2018 Commonwealth Games hopeful Phoebe Bell. Picture: by David Clark

The Bulletin understands the ultimate cost of taking on an extra sport will depend in part on where the temporary arena is built

“We have every confidence we will be able to deliver this extra sport within the funding framework we have and some tremendous work has been done to ensure we deliver a value-for-money Games,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

Among those excited for about the unexpected deal is Olympic gold medallist Natalie Cook, who took home top honours at the 2000 Games.

Ms Cook was one of the leading voices disappointed by the original 2013 decision.

Next-generation talent Phoebe Bell is in training at Volleyball Australia’s National high performance program in Adelaide.

The 19-year-old Brisbane-born athlete said she hoped to compete on the Coast’s beaches in 2018.

“The goal is to be on the 2018 Games squad and we are fortunate to have the opportunity,” she said.

“Having a home Games gives us an advantage and the beaches of the Gold Coast are so nice, so it is exciting.”