With the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing slowly approaching, some new sports are ready to be considered for the games, with Snow Volleyball as one of them. I know what you are thinking: come on, that is not a real sport. Well, it is!
Unlike Olympic ice hockey and field hockey, which have different rules, different equipment and different governing bodies, snow volleyball is almost identical to the beach game. The tactics and rules are also similar to the two-a-side beach sport, and in fact, many of the competitors come from beach volleyball.
The only major changes, of course, are the clothing and the playing surface. The overall atmosphere does not seem to have changed, according to this YouTube video. There still appears to be large crowds with DJs spinning out music and cheerleaders (in lederhosen instead of bikinis). Oh, and since it is winter, the courts usually feature hot tubs along the edge for the fans to enjoy the action from. Apparently, sometimes after matches, the victors will jump into the hot tubs with their fans in order to celebrate their victory.
So far, the tournaments have been scheduled at resorts — with free admission — as something for the skiers to enjoy when they need a break. However, playing on a ski mountain can have its challenges, including thin air and sudden changes of weather.
Overall, I hope that snow volleyball becomes an Olympic sport. It is fun to watch and it would draw more attention to the Olympics, given the popularity of volleyball in the Summer Olympics. So yes, Snow Volleyball is a thing.