Beach volleyball is set to be included on the programme for the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in The Bahamas, insidethegames understands.
Athletics, swimming, rugby sevens, road cycling, judo, boxing, tennis and beach soccer have all been confirmed on the schedule for the event, due to run from July 18 to 23, and beach volleyball is expected to follow suit.
Bahamas 2017 Organising Committee chief executive Romell Knowles told insidethegames that he is "very confident beach volleyball will be a part of the Games".
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) are likely to confirm the decision, which will represent the first time the sport has ever featured at the Commonwealth Youth Games, in the near future.
Beach volleyball will also make its debut at the main Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast 2018.
Should the CGF officially award the sport a place on the programme, beach volleyball action would be held at the National Sports Centre along with beach soccer.
Discussions remain ongoing about how to organise the schedule for beach volleyball events alongside beach soccer.
A delegation from the CGF recently conducted an official visit to the Caribbean nation to inspect preparations ahead of next year’s event, the first-ever multi-sport competition to be held in The Bahamas.
Matt Curtain, director of sport and International Federation relations at the CGF, was joined by Rachael Simon, the head of the Commonwealth Youth Games, during the visit.
They met with a number of leading officials in the Bahamas, such as Organising Committee chairman Wellington Miller and Knowles.
A range of topics were discussed, including governance and management, sport operations, Opening and Closing Ceremonies and general operations for the event.
The delegation also embarked on a tour of the venues, all of which are located in Bahamas capital city Nassau.
The site visit “focused on validating current planning assumptions, forging stronger relationships with key partners and identifying strategic opportunities to advance the narrative of ‘Transformation 2022’ through community engagement, social inclusion and ambitious innovation”, according to the CGF.
The CGF were said to be “very pleased” with the progress being made in Nassau, which has experience in hosting major events such as the International Association of Athletics Federations World Relays.
The Government in The Bahamas, along with the country’s National Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Association, has also established a “National Event Management Secretariat” to help market the nation as a destination for major sports competitions.
As well as the Commonwealth Youth Games, The Bahamas will stage the World Relays next April and the Beach Soccer World Cup in April and May.