MEDIA RELEASE – Sydney, NSW – 29/07/2026 – On Friday 17th July, Volleyball NSW officially celebrated the pending departure of our NSW Phoenix representative team to Guangzhou, China, at a special reception bringing together athletes, community leaders, government representatives and partners to recognise a significant milestone for the sport in New South Wales.

The reception marked the first time Volleyball NSW has established a structured international touring program for a NSW representative volleyball team, reinforcing the organisation's commitment to creating meaningful performance pathways and international opportunities for athletes.

The evening also celebrated Volleyball NSW's partnership with Power Potential Healthcare Group, whose ongoing support plays an important role in enhancing athlete recovery and wellbeing as they prepare for a tour of this scale.

"This Volleyball NSW Sister City initiative with the City of Sydney and Guangzhou is a first for our sport and great example of how we can create amazing competition experiences for our local athletes in a creative way. We hope that this upcoming athletic exchange continues into the future and deepens the relationship between the competing teams and boosts the visibility of indoor volleyball here in NSW. Through the great support of partners like Power Potential, we are continuing to build our athletes access to world class S&C and recovery facilities - allowing them to be at their best when representing our state. I wish the team and support staff the best of luck and represent our sport and the Phoenix program with pride.” - Julien Prosser, President, Volleyball NSW

The reception also celebrated the relationship between Volleyball NSW and the City of Sydney, while recognising the 40th anniversary of the Sydney–Guangzhou Sister City relationship. Together, these partnerships demonstrate the important role sport plays in fostering international friendships, cultural understanding and people-to-people connections.

"I loved joining the community to bid farewell to the incredible NSW Phoenix squad before they head to China. Celebrating these athletes ahead of their departure highlights the core of what we champion—giving a platform to passionate local talent stepping up to represent both the City of Sydney and Australia on the world stage. This tour is a brilliant activation of our long-standing 40th anniversary Sister City connection with Guangzhou, driven by elite teamwork and immense community pride. The entire City will be cheering them on every step of the way, and we wish them every success!" - Councillor Jess Miller, Deputy Lord Mayor, City of Sydney

The event welcomed representatives from the Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney, highlighting the value of sporting exchanges in strengthening the enduring relationship between Australia and China through shared experiences and cultural connection.

“It was a pleasure to attend the send-off for the NSW Phoenix. This tour comes at a special time, as we mark the 40th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Sydney and Guangzhou, and I wish the team every success on their journey." - Cultural Consul YUE Liwen, from the Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney

The reception recognised the commitment and achievements of our NSW Phoenix athletes, coaches and support staff as they prepare to represent New South Wales in China this August. Beyond competition, the tour provides an opportunity for cultural exchange and reinforces Volleyball NSW's vision of developing athletes who understand the broader impact of sport in connecting communities.

The evening also reflected Volleyball NSW's continued focus on building an inclusive culture that values the people and organisations who support athletes throughout their journey, while creating opportunities for athletes to give back to their communities and represent the sport with pride.

Event Speakers

• Julien Prosser, President, Volleyball NSW
• Councillor Jess Miller, Deputy Lord Mayor, City of Sydney
• YUE Liwen, Consul, Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Sydney
• George Psyhogios, Chief Executive Officer, Power Potential Healthcare Group
• Fraser Garrett, NSW Phoenix athlete

The NSW Phoenix team departs for China on 18 August. Volleyball NSW wishes our athletes and staff every success as they embark on this exciting international tour and looks forward to following their achievements both on and off the court.

ENDS

For more information, please contact: 
info@volleyballnsw.com.au 

Photography Credit: Benjamin Nguyen @b_ngu_photos

Contact details for YUE Liwen