volleyball tours italy

Volleytours - Volleyball Vacations

Come as a player, leave as a friend, unforgettable beach volleyball vacations , training camps & sporting events, and friends for life, we love to play and experience beach volleyball and some of our best moments in life have been on the beach with a ball or surfboard in hand. throw in lots of new friends, exciting new destinations with a great vibe and you'll have a pretty good idea of what we are passionate about. we are guided by our motto "come as a player, leave as a friend"., what's your favorite camp.

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Volleyball Tours - Italy

Follow along as we tour the world... sightseeing... exploring and playing volleyball

Our first stop in Rome

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

2014 volleyball tour day 12 return to the usa day.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

2014 day 11 junior age volleyball tour venice free day for shopping.

2014 Day 10 Junior Age Volleyball Tour Venice

Monday, June 23, 2014

2014 day 9 junior age volleyball tour florence to venice.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

2014 day 8 junior age volleyball tour grosseto to pisa to florence.

Friday, June 20, 2014

2014 day 7 junior age volleyball tour grosseto.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

2014 day 6 junior age volleyball tour grosseto.

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The trip to Costa Rica was amazing. We were so happy with our experience through Quest Sports Travel. The attention to detail, organization of the trip and thoughtfulness displayed were all truly remarkable. We cannot speak highly enough of our tour manager, Lucia and bus driver, Gerardo. We had an unforgettable experience. We're so thankful for the wonderful job and time that all those at Quest Sports put into our trip - it wouldn't have been the same without their dedication to our trip being perfect. We will absolutely be working with Quest again. Pura Vida!

Ready to start planning your trip? Contact us today

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The Planking Traveler

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Goodwill Ambassadors Volleyball Tour Of Italy

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

As an avid volleyball player, I always look for opportunities to play whenever I go on vacation but usually don’t find much.  A few years ago, I decided to see if there were any international volleyball opportunities out there.  I didn’t have to search long before I found a tour that sounded like the perfect fit for me.    After a few weeks, I decided to take the plunge and send in my application for my first trip with Goodwill Ambassadors Volleyball Tours!

They have adult tours to Italy and to Rio, Brazil (They also have Juniors tours to London/Paris/Barcelona, Italy, and Rio) – I opted for Italy because it was always high on my bucket list.  My only prior exposure to Europe was on my first solo trip to visit a friend in Dublin, so I was thrilled to be going back.   It seemed like forever until July arrived and it was time to embark on my adventure, but the day finally came when we were all to meet up in the Chicago O’Hare airport before boarding our flight to Italy.  I had no idea how many people would be in our group or who they were, but we were supposed to wear our Goodwill Ambassadors t-shirts and backpacks so that we could easily spot each other in the airport (the white Italy t-shirt below)

The six of us met up and got to know each other at the airport for a little while before we got on our flight.  Everyone was excited to get our adventure started!   I liked having a smaller group because we all got to know each other well by the end of the trip.  We had one more group member who was from Europe, so she met us in Rome, as did our tour leader, John Littleman.

Our days were structured with sightseeing during the day, and volleyball matches with local teams during the afternoon and evening, followed by dinner with the teams we just played and some days/nights with free time to explore on our own.  In Rome, we started our journey with a guided sightseeing tour.  We got to visit the Vatican, the Coliseum, the Sistine Chapel, and the famous works of Michelangelo.

We climbed to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica for the grand view pictured above.  Everything in Rome was magnificent – there really is no other word for it.  So much history and grandeur in one place…and pizza!  The man below was our favorite waiter at the pizza place we enjoyed, aptly named, Super Mario 🙂  Pizza was HUGE but so good.  Quattro Formaggi was my favorite.

After a few days in Rome, we boarded the train to the ocean-side town of Marina di Grosseto. This was my favorite of the cities we stayed in because it had such a welcoming small-town vibe and we stayed only a block from the beach and a block from the gym where we played our volleyball games.

We were able to have indoor and beach games with our host club, which was a lot of fun, and tiring for people like me not used to playing in the sand!  We worked on our tans in the Tuscan sun and enjoyed getting to compete with the locals, while also learning a new game – Beach tennis!  I had not heard of this before going to Italy but it was a lot of fun.  My favorite food here: Octopus!  So tender and flavorful.

Next up was Florence.   We were treated to more glorious architecture there and we maximized our time by taking a Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour.  We visited the Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, and Pitti Palace, followed by a nice dinner on the Arno River.  Of course, we also had to see Michelangelo’s David.

We also happened to be there during the filming of The Jersey Shore, so we did what any annoying American tourist would do and asked every local we saw if they could point us in the direction of the pizzeria where filming was taking place.  We finally found it and signed our lives away in order to be part of the filming while we ate lunch in the pizzeria.  The show’s stars were working there and looked less than thrilled at their assignments, so nothing fun happened, unfortunately.  Side note: I’m not a fan of The Jersey Shore, but it was the best pizza we had during our whole trip.  Thanks, Pizzeria O’Vesuvio !

After enjoying our time in Florence, it was time to leave for our final city (Venice) with a stop in Pisa along the way.  To me, Pisa was a cool “check it off the list” thing, but it was so crowded that it wasn’t somewhere I wanted to stay for long.  Once we got to Venice, we quickly discovered what a unique framework of winding streets it had amidst all the canals.

We didn’t take a Gondola ride (I was too cheap for that), but we explored San Marcos Square and Cathedral (pigeons galore), took a boat to Burano, Murano, and Torcello (famous for glass blowing and lace) and saw the Bridge of Sighs.  We made some special connections with the local teams here that we competed against.  Most of them spoke fairly good English, but they humored us as we tried to practice our broken Italian with them.

As far as the level of competition, I found it to be challenging, but not overly so.  The local teams we played seemed pretty on par with our playing skills and we’d mix up the teams when they were not.  I wondered how our group would mesh since we all came from different levels of experience, but we ended up working well together and having a blast.

After Venice, we were all sad that our trip had come to an end and that we had to head home.  A few years later, several of us met up at another volleyball tournament in Wisconsin (Waupaca Boatride), so that was fun to reconnect and reminisce about Italy.    Because of this trip, one of the girls from the trip and I now travel together regularly, both for volleyball tournaments and for non-athletic international adventures .   I hope this inspires you to embrace what you are passionate about and go on some adventures of your own!

Maybe you’re not ready for an international trip, but want to find some US volleyball tournaments to play?  Check out my volleyball bucket list !

Have you ever gone on a trip like this?  Share in the comments!  Before you go, be sure to check out my list of fitness essentials .

Thanks for reading!

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• ITALY TOURS
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“… It was a pleasure (…) in planning the tour and consulting during the trip. Our guides were a wealth of information… You made my job easy as team manager for the players.”

…We truly appreciate (you) took us to and from our training sessions and games. We all had a wonderful experience and we know it was all because of the preparation and time prior to our arrival…and your attention to every detail during our stay.”

“… (We want) as Juventus, to thank you for the splendid hospitality and availability shown during the whole event. It was a great opportunity for all of us.”

VOLLEYBALL TEAM TRIPS

Foreign tour destinations.

Volleyball is one of Costa Rica's most popular sports with National Teams and club teams providing great competition for visiting universities! Costa Rica has been dominant at the National Team level among countries in the region and several National Team players played college volleyball in the US.

Excursions include zip-lining through the rain-forest, white-water rafting, relaxing in the natural hot springs at the base of Arenal Volcano and visiting world-class beaches on the Pacific Coast!

Service-Learning

Service volleyball clinics with local youth are an important part of any team's trip to Costa Rica and include working with Special Olympics, local schools and clubs in San Jose.

Trip Details

Trip length can range from 6-10 days and include 2-4 games. We offer a number of different hotel packages for groups; ranging from budget friendly 3-star accommodations to 4 and 5-star resorts.

Spain's top volleyball clubs play in the Superliga with 14 teams on the men's side and 14 teams on the women's side. In addition, there is Superliga 2 as well as competitive teams at the university level ensuring that your team will face the perfect challenged on the court!

Foreign tours to Spain provide a unique blend of historical and cultural attractions, beautiful white-sand beaches, and the opportunity to visit world-renowned sites in several Spanish cities.

Volleyball clinics with local youth available.

Our standard trips include 3 nights in Madrid, 2 nights on the coast in the port city of Valencia and 3 nights in Barcelona. Spain is a great destination for customizing a trip based on the goals that you have for your team, with nearly unlimited options available.

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa is our most unique destination offering a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience to explore one of the most fascinating countries in the world. We base our trips out of Cape Town which the New York Times ranked their #1 travel destination in 2014! Top university and provincial teams offer solid competition, but you'll find there is so much more to this trip than volleyball!

A full menu of bucket list excursion options include safaris, great white shark diving, hiking Table Mountain, and world class beaches. South Africa also offers some amazing cultural sites like the Robben Island tour where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned during the Apartheid Era.

Service-learning opportunities are nearly endless through our relationships with inspiring "Sport-for-Development" organizations that are using volleyball to address social challenges in their communities.

There are several different itineraries available for South Africa depending on your desired level of competition and preferred excursion activities.

Italy is one of the top countries in the world for men's and women's indoor volleyball. The women's team has placed either 5th or 9th in the last 4 summer Olympics and the Men's National Team has received silver or bronze medals at 4 of the last 5 summer olympics. The local professional league provides plenty of competition for visiting teams in various cities throughout the country. Trips include stops in Rome, Florence, Venice & Lake Como for an unforgettable and beautiful trip!

Italy tours offer the opportunity to visit several cities with world famous sightseeing along the way. Visits to Rome and the Coliseum, Lake Como, Tuscany, Pisa, and more are sure to be popular among students as well as families joining the adventure.

Trip length can range from 9-12 days and several different itinerary combinations are available. We offer a number of different hotel packages for groups ranging from 3-star accommodations to 4 and 5 star hotels.

Please fill out the contact form and a Beyond Sports staff member will get back to you as soon as possible!

Beyond Sports

220 NW 8th Ave

Portland, OR 97209

[email protected]

Tel: 347-746-3814

Tour Itinerary

Please note: Times are subject to change in the days leading up to the tour as well as throughout the duration of the trip. All changes will be communicated via the WhatsApp group chat.   

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Volleyball Tours to Europe and Brazil

Volleyball Tours to Europe and Brazil

For the past 42 years we have offered unsurpassed quality programs for both Adult and Junior Volleyball players and coaches who want to take their game to the next level. Our programs are planned, organized and conducted by people who know and love the sport as you do. Volleyball Tours is the best way to link international travel, sport, education and cultural enrichment.  By taking part in one of our all inclusive sport tours to Europe or Brazil. We blend the sport you love, the excitement of International travel,

International sightseeing, International competitions into one fantastic trip. We also incorporate into that. the experience of visiting new cultures and the opportunity to making new friends, that you will have for a lifetime. 

 That's what makes the Volleyball Tour program so successful. Take a look at our tour itineraries, you will quickly see why we have been the players and coaches choice for sport tours. Athletes of all age and skill levels are welcome onto our programs.

John Littleman Director Sports For Youth Foundation John is a USAV All American player, five time National USAV Champion; Former USAV regional commissioner, 4 times; HS State champion coach, 5 time NWAACC College champion coach (small college), Elected to the NWAACC Coaches Hall of Fame, Founder South End Juniors USAV club, Director of Goodwill Ambassadors Tours (42 years), Former Board of Director member for the Puget Sound Region USAV. 

Inducted into the Puget Sound Region USAV Hall of Fame.  Chris Littleman Asst. tour director, club director SEVA volleyball club.  Chris has played AVP professional beach volleyball.  He has been selected NWAC Coach of the Year, and regional honors, as a college coach at Highline College.   Chris Littleman is an assistant beach volleyball coach at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Additional Information

For junior age players we have teams for each age group (U12/U13; U14; U16; U18 and players age 19-20 (college age players).

Each tour team will be limited to 8-10 players per team (to ensure maximum playing time).  We accept players by position played i.e. each team will have 1-2 setters; 2 outside hitters; 2 middle hitters; 1-2 liberos; 1-2 rightside players; 1-2 allround players.  

Teams often fill early, it is best to register early as specific positions fill quickly.

How to Apply

Everything starts with your application.

Fillout the player application

Select which tour you are most interested in attending

Be sure to include your coach / reference email address

We contact your reference to ask a little information about your playing skills and you as a team player.

Once your reference responds to our request you will be invited to join our tour..

Once accepted a $500 deposit will hold your place on the tour team.

Families may make monthly payments.

Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure

This will be our 42nd season of taking volleyball players on the trip of a lifetime to experience Europe. We offer two equally exciting tours for junior age players next summer; (one tour to) Rome, Grosseto, Pisa, Florence, and Venice, Italy in June. And... one tour to London, England; Paris, France; Barcelona, Spain in July.

I wanted to share with you some of the most frequently asked questions..... to help you and your parents make a decision about joining us this summer.

• Can a junior age player attend unaccompanied by an adult? To ensure safety for all travelers it is required that all Jr. age players need to be accompanied by an adult (parent, or guardian)
• Do I need to have my whole team to join, or can I sign up as an individual?" We have BOTH programs available. MOST players sign up as an individual (or with a friend). We then make teams out of the individual players using their age, their skill level and experience as guidelines. FULL TEAMS are welcome to join us, they would play as their own team
• I live in the Midwest ...where do I have to go to start the tour? We have the players from all over the USA and Canada join us each year. Our ticketing agent will make all of the flight arrangements for you.
• How do I register / sign up? Click on the Player Application form at the top of the page.
• Is there a try out? How good do you have to be.... Who makes the team? We have players from all over the USA and Canada. The first step is to fill-out the application form, players need to provide us with a volleyball coach reference. The reference can be a HS Volleyball coach, a Club team coach. The references will be sent an evaluation form that asks about the applicants volleyball skills as well as their PERSONAL CHARACTER. If the references come back positive, the applicant will be accepted onto the Volleyball tour. Players need to be accomplished volleyball players, some of the better players on their HS team, and most play USAV Club team. We want to have all of the players be about the same skill levels. We then accept players onto the team on a first come first accepted basis, and by position. The sooner the player fill out the application (with references), the sooner we can contact the references the better chance the applicant has of making the team. We do have limited number of spaces for each tour.
• Are NON Players welcome? (Parents etc..) We encourage the parents and family member to share the experience with their daughters/sons. Many families use our tour as a starting point for a family vacation.
• We do allow younger Individual players (14 or younger) to attend (they must be accompanied by an adult).Q. How many players on a team? Everyone that is accepted onto the team is a volleyball player. All players want to play as much as possible. We keep the team small to ensure everyone has amble playing time. We have 8-9 players per team.
• Who do we play? We play local club teams, In some venues we will play in 1-2 day tournaments, in the other cities we will play some BEACH volleyball.
• Do we get uniforms....? Yes we get tour tee shirts, uniforms and back-pack, all with the team logo
• How do we get around In Luxury... we travel by the wonderful train system through out Europe.
• What do I have to do to secure my place? Fill out the application form, include the email address of your references (this is the fastest way to get it done) Once you have been accepted... send in your payment for the $500.00 tour deposit to secure your place on the team.
• Does the tour deposit apply to my trip? YES...
• When do I need to do this...? As soon as possible. Space is limited, we need to book you ticket BEFORE the deadline. The Tour FILLS EARLY each year ... plan ahead, get your application in early.

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10 most interesting places in Yaroslavl Region (PHOTOS)

1. H istorical center of Yaroslavl

Church of Elijah the Prophet

Yaroslavl is located at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl rivers. This is the capital of the region (and the unofficial capital of the ‘Golden Ring’ tourist route) and a beautiful city with a thousand-year-long history; some of its landmarks are depicted on the 1,000-ruble bill.

The city is, at the same time, very modern – with bars and restaurants to satisfy every taste; that said, it is saturated with history and a rich cultural heritage. So, you can stay awhile and spend quite some time visiting attractions and churches… (don’t miss the Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve and the 17th-century Church of Elijah the Prophet!). You can read a detailed guide of Yaroslavl here . 

Aerial view of the city center

Even if you don’t like to go to museums, we still recommend you to visit the ‘Golden Ring’ show market, where you can see the main attractions of all the ‘Golden Ring’ cities in one room – well, a miniature version of them! It’s not simply static architecture in miniature, it’s an entire living world. Trains and cars move around, power stations are in operation, you can also hear church bells ring. Night comes every 10 minutes; lights spark up in the cities and in the windows of apartment blocks.

‘Golden Ring’ show market

Such an attraction is fun for both adults and children! You can see more videos and photos here . 

2. Pereslavl-Zalessky

The 12th century Transfiguration Cathedral and the monument to Alexander Nevsky

This is the first city of the region along the way for a tourist en route from Moscow to Yaroslavl. It’s also included in the ‘Golden Ring’. Pereslavl-Zalessky has one of the most ancient surviving churches of Russia – the 1152 (!) Transfiguration Cathedral. Almost every house here has a unique “museum” with its own theme, from vintage irons to gramophone records.

Locomotive Museum in Pereslavl

One of the most unusual ones hides in the forests not far from the city – the Pereslavl Railway Museum under the open sky. Examples of different locomotives and coaches since the beginning of the 20th century are collected there. You can also have a ride on a real draisine (a light auxiliary rail vehicle).

You can read a detailed guide to Pereslavl-Zalessky here .

3. Lake Pleshcheyevo

Lake Pleshcheyevo and the Church of the Forty Martyrs

Pereslavl-Zalessky stands on the shore of quite a large body of water. This lake is famous for the fact that Peter the Great trained his amusement fleet there. A museum stands on the shore, where the small boat ‘Fortuna’ is exhibited, built by Peter the Great himself, according to legend. 

‘Fortuna’ boat built by Peter the Great

Near Lake Pleshcheyevo lies an ancient artifact of pagan Russia – the sacred ‘Blue Stone’. This is a giant boulder (estimates say it weighs around 12 tons) that changes its color to blue after rain. The locals worshiped the stone in pre-Christian times, but even after accepting Christianity, the stone was attributed mystical properties (it was supposed that the stone possessed dark powers).

This Blue Stone was considered sacred

Pleshcheyevo is a paradise for eco-tourists; there are a lot of rare birds and animals that livee there, surrounded by a forest and picturesque places. You can stop at one of the recreation bases or pitch a tent and enjoy the view, ride a boat or SUP-boards. There’s also a kiteboarding school; also, during summer, hot air balloon festivals are often held.

4. The Rostov Kremlin

The Rostov Kremlin

The next city along the way is Rostov Veliky (don’t mistake it for the southern Rostov-on-Don). Its main attraction is its unbelievably beautiful white-stone kremlin of. It was also captured in popular culture: many scenes of the iconic comedy movie ‘Ivan Vasilievich: Back to the Future’ were shot there.

A still from ‘Ivan Vasilievich: Back to the Future’

The kremlin is not a defensive fortification like in other cities. It was built as the residence of Rostov metropolitan Jonas III in 1650-1680. The high walls with embrasures and lookout towers are more of a stylization and a tribute to architectural trends.

Inside, you should definitely enter the ancient Dormition Cathedral, admire the iconostasis and frescoes and take a stroll in its picturesque garden. Try pastries with kvass, medovukha or sbiten in the local refectory.

As a souvenir, you can get a decoration item with Rostov ‘finift’, an old local handicraft that originated in Byzantium, involves a technique known as ‘fire writing’.

You can read our Rostov guide here .

5. Uglich – the city where history was made

Uglich, the red church is the Church of Dmitry on Spilled Blood

This small town on a picturesque shore of the Volga River is famous across Russia. Not for its ancient churches or its nature, but as the place where Tsarevich Dmitry was killed, which ended the Rurikid dynasty and paved the way for the ‘Time of Troubles’.

The main attractions are concentrated in the kremlin, with a bunch of souvenir stores and a new embankment with trendy cafes.

Visit the chambers of Uglich princes of the 15th century, as well as the Church of Dmitry on Spilled Blood, built on the place where the tsarevich was killed – it has fantastic paintings inside.

And you can read our detailed Uglich guide here .

6. The city of mice

Cruise ships cruising along the Volga River always stop in the city called Myshkin. It is, probably, the most lovely (and cutest) town in the entire region, a small center which has preserved the spirit of Russian antiquity.

‘Mysh’ is Russian for ‘Mouse’, so Myshkin literally means the ‘Mouse City’. Thanks to its name, the city made the mouse its mascot. And now mice (no, not the real ones!) are all over the place – there’s a special museum dedicated to mice, while there are souvenirs wherever you go: mice of the most diverse varieties!

Mice of Myshkin

It’s considered a blessing to buy a small clay mouse and put it in your wallet – the locals believe it will attract money. The square, where the Volga River liners dock, offers a dozen types of smoked fish. A marvelous view of the Volga River, meanwhile, opens from the bell tower of St. Nicholas’ Cathedral.

7. Rybinsk – a retro-style city

Retro street signs on the local Red Square

Rybinsk is yet another city on the shore of the Volga River. There, you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of rich merchant life – the city was once a true trade center, which also dealt in fish. The Nobel Brothers Museum, who developed the oil industry in the city and on the Volga River, can also be found there.

It’s pure joy to have a stroll in Rybinsk, for, today, the main aspect of the city is that all the signs in the center are made in the retro merchant style. Even modern banks and stores attract visitors with their seemingly pre-revolution signs. Also, Rybinsk has a beautiful and very long embankment and even its own Red Square, which, despite the Lenin monument, is very reminiscent of a typical square somewhere in Europe.

8. The most beautiful village in Russia

The village of Vyatskoye

The village of Vyatskoye 40 kilometers from Yaroslavl is considered one of the most beautiful in Russia (at least, according to the ‘Most Beautiful Villages of Russia’ Association). In recent years, it has become a true Mecca for tourists. Its center was restored in the Art Nouveau style of the beginning of the 20th century, right down to stone pavements and vintage buildings.

There are museums to satisfy every taste (including the Museum of Russian Entrepreneurial Spirit), stores with souvenirs and local delicacies, sweets, and liqueurs, as well as a multitude of cafes.

9. Borisoglebsky Monastery

Borisoglebsky Monastery

There’s an old and very important monastery between Rostov and Uglich. It was founded in 1363 by monks Fyodor and Pavel with the blessing of Sergius of Radonezh himself – who, according to legend, picked this place (he was born not far). The monastery had always been a district center; it was visited by tsars and a village gradually formed around it, after which fairs and trade markets began to be held. 

In Soviet times, religious services here stopped and a museum opened instead; but, today, the monastery is operational again. The impressive monastery walls and an imposing gate church speak of its former glory.

Resurrection Cathedral in Tutaev

This city received its name after the revolution; before, it was called Romanov-Borisoglebsk. It was known for its mineral oil factory, as well as for its linen and fur manufactures (in the 18th century, the breed of Romanov sheep was bred there).

To this day, you can only reach one part of the city from the other only by a ferry, so get ready to sail or pick only one side of the city for your visit. For example, the Borisoglebsk side, with the unbelievably magnificent 17th-century Resurrection Cathedral. Be sure to study the tiled belt and paintings on its facade; inside, you should definitely approach the cathedral’s relic – the unique three-meter-tall Borisoglebsky Savior icon, which is considered miraculous.

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The Best Things to Do in Russia's Charming Town of Yaroslavl

Yaroslavl is a UNESCO World Heritage Site scattered with churches and surrounded by a beautiful Russian countryside that’s located just 260 kilometres (162 miles) north of Moscow. These are the eight must-do’s that will make the four-hour train ride from Moscow to Yaroslavl worth your while.

The volga embankment.

Take a stroll along the embankment of the Volga (Europe’s longest river), and take in the beautiful views both across the water and of the city. The walk will take you past a number of cafés and restaurants, which you can stop at if you find yourself in need of a refreshment, or you can take a rest at one of the nearby pavilions. The most picturesque part of this walk is at the end, where the Volga and Kotorosl rivers merge. Once you’ve captured the perfect panoramic shot, be sure to turn your back on the river and appreciate the view of the beautiful, gold-domed Assumption Cathedral.

Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery

If your time in Yaroslavl is limited, place this at the top of your list. Founded in the 13th century, this monastery (whose name translates to ‘The Holy Transfiguration Monastery’) is the oldest architectural landmark of Yaroslavl. The domes of the Transfiguration Cathedral sparkle on a sunny day and every hour you can hear the ringing of the 12 bells in the tower. A ticket just for the grounds will set you back a mere 40 roubles ($0.70 USD), although it is worth paying to go up the bell tower for the bird’s-eye-view of Yaroslavl. Be sure to watch out for Masha, the monastery’s bear, who now resides there after having been rescued as a cub.

Gastronom No.1

Restaurant, Russian

With its bright blue art nouveau exterior, this place is hard to miss and is located in the centre of town, just down the road from the Transfiguration Monastery. It is one of the oldest shops in Yaroslavl and now has a lovely self-serve restaurant attached to it. The pleasant interior and delicious array of dishes make it a perfect place to stop for lunch and do some souvenir shopping.

Izgib Sports Park

Sports Center

If you’re staying in Yaroslavl for more than a day, be sure to spend a couple of hours at the Izgib Sports Park. Located at the edge of the city, it is inaccessible by public transport but worth the 300-rouble ($4.80 USD) taxi ride. Although it’s best to visit it in winter when you can ski, snowboard and toboggan, this sports park has something to offer the adventure seeker all year round. In the summer months, you can hire bikes, play volleyball by the pool or take a ride on a quad bike across the fields. Refuel after your activities with lunch in a wooden cabin and enjoy a break from sightseeing.

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Popovskie Bani

A trip to Russia would not be complete without experiencing a banya (bath house). With temperatures often exceeding 90°C (194°F), it is considered to be one of the best ways to cleanse your body of toxins. In the banya , people massage each other with birch leaves to improve circulation and it is then customary to splash yourself with very cold water or jump into a pond outside. There are a number of public banyas in Yaroslavl’s city centre, including Popovskie Bani, which is highly rated. It’s guaranteed to be a more authentic (and considerably cheaper) experience than those in Moscow.

Petropavlovskiy Park

Situated just outside the old centre, this beautiful old park with five ponds has a stunning blue church that was built to mimic the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in St Petersburg . This area is beautiful to explore all year round and in the summer months, the bright church is stunningly reflected in the clear waters of the pond just next to it. The park makes an idyllic setting for a picnic away from the town centre.

Papin Garage

Bar, Restaurant, Russian

Great prices and a fun and welcoming atmosphere make this a popular venue among Yaroslavl locals and students. The restaurant has a great selection of drinks as well as a tasty food menu to ensure you don’t go hungry. There is often live music, especially on Friday nights and weekends, so be sure to swing by for a drink or two.

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Top 10 trips to Italy

When you start planning a trip to Italy, you may imagine yourself wandering the cobblestoned streets of Florence, deciphering the ancient ruins of Rome, or drifting along the canals of Venice. But, as our specialists will share with you, there are a myriad of additional experiences on offer in Italy that can fully immerse you into this sensorially enriching country.

Your Italy trip may include kayaking along the Amalfi coast, being guests on a private boat around Sardinia’s La Maddalena islands, staying in one of Matera’s cave hotels, or accompanying a volcanologist across the volatile landscape of Mount Etna.

Whatever your passions, our specialists can help you plan your own bespoke adventure. Below are some suggested Italy tour ideas to help inspire your own trip to Italy .

Pick your trip

• Venice, Florence & Rome
• Northern Italy & the Lakes
• Tuscany & Umbria
• Puglia & Matera
• Southern Italy & Amalfi Coast
• Italy’s great outdoors
• Lakes & mountains of Italy
• Naples & the island of Ischia

1. Italy’s art cities: Venice, Florence & Rome

Italy embodies and inspires artistic mastery. Under the bluest of skies, you’ll see swifts swooping around the domes, bell towers, and ramparts of soaring architectural marvels, while masterpieces adorn the walls, ceilings, doors, and loggias of every palazzo. Venice, Florence and Rome are the ultimate triumvirate of Italy’s art cities and you can easily combine exploring all three cities in a two-week trip to Italy.

Where the trip could take you:

You can fly into Venice and out of Rome or vice versa, with Florence a two-hour midway point from each. You’ll use the train network to jump between the three, and private Venetian water taxis or personal drivers will transport you between each station and hotel.

Experiences you can have:

On an art-focused trip, expert guides will introduce you to some of the world's most important monuments and works of art, while giving you contextual background to the cities as you walk through them. From Roman to medieval, Renaissance to Baroque, you’ll be given a tour of Italy that allows you to track the country’s trailblazing role in the history of art.

Your guides will know the best time to explore the treasures of each city with you. From early mornings at the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel or discovering the artwork of Florence, to private evening introductions to Rome’s highlights such as the Trevi Fountain and Piazza del Popollo.

Crucially, you’ll get whizzed around queues and into exclusive behind-the-scenes areas — from hidden chambers in the Venetian Doge’s Palace to queue-jumping entry to the Colosseum in Rome.

2. Cultural trip to Northern Italy & the Lakes

The north of Italy is a land of serene lakes, mist-topped mountains, ornate palaces, waterside towns, and the capital of couture, Milan . On this trip, you’ll explore its highlights, including viewing Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper , following the footsteps of Shakespeare’s love-struck Romeo and Juliet in Verona , and exploring the Borromean Islands of Lake Como by boat.

Flying in and out of Milan, a personal driver will take you between Bergamo, Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, and Verona. At Lake Como, private boats will lead you to the Borromean Islands, Villa Balbianello, and Bellagio. While the towns of Varenna, Tremezzo, and Menaggio are easy to visit using public ferries.

Milan is the cultural hub of this region, and a privately guided walking tour shows you its highlights in detail, including The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, the ornate shopping arcade of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the gleaming Duomo di Milano, and La Scala opera house.

Tranquil and elegant, the gentle waters of the Italian Lakes are surrounded by ornate villas, picturesque waterside towns, and the ever-present backdrop of the Dolomite mountains. You can board a private boat at Lake Como to tour the palaces and gardens of the Borromean Islands.

The Italian lakes have been the backdrop for numerous iconic films and your guide will take you by private boat to visit the lakeside retreat of Villa Balbianello, the setting of the 2006 James Bond film, Casino Royale . After which, you’ll head to the ‘pearl of the lake’, Bellagio, to wander its cobblestoned streets.

3. Tuscany & Umbria’s scenic landscapes

Hills painted golden with cereal crops, row upon row of heavily laden vines, and winding roads lined with Cyprus trees… The landscapes of Tuscany and Umbria are among the most celebrated in the world. You can set the pace with a self-drive tour and dip into immersive guided experiences along the way.

Linking flights into Florence and out of Rome, you can drive out to the hills of Chianti, meandering your way through the Val d’Orcia to Montepulciano. From here you can pass south to Pienza and cross into Umbria, heading for the town of Perugia before a visit to Assisi and Orvieto. Here, you may choose to visit Bagnoregio before heading south to Rome.

You can slow your pace by exploring on foot or by bike in both Tuscany and Umbria. On foot, you can choose to have a private guided hike through the hills of the Val d’Orcia, or walking tours of Florence, Assisi, or Perugia. By bike, you can cycle around the hill towns surrounding Greve in Chianti, or take a gentle e-bike tour to the isolated hilltop community of Bagnoregio.

Wine and cheese are gastronomic highlights of the region, and you can sample both in atmospheric surroundings here. From cycling the vineyards of the Chianti hills, to sipping your way through a wine-tasting session within a 12th-century abbey, you’ll leave with a deep understanding of the Chianti terroir. In the Val d’Orcia, we can arrange for you to visit to a family-owned cheese maker’s farm, with a hands-on demonstration of cheese production followed by a sampling lunch.

4. Highlights of Puglia & Matera

Cone-shaped stone houses, twisted olive groves, towns carved out of tufa, and a coastline of sheltered coves are highlights of this south Italian region. You can visit an olive-oil farm, indulge in some local gastronomic delicacies, and explore some of the region’s unusual stays with an immersive introductory visit.

Between the two airports of Bari and Brindisi, there are a multitude of destination highlights for you to choose between, all easily accessible with a private driver. From the caves and alleyways of Matera to the conical houses of Alberobello , the Baroque town of Lecce or the 13th-century frescoes of Galatina. Additionally, Fasano and Otranto are good bases for coastal adventures.

The Pugliese people are proud of their distinct cuisine, so you can delve into its heritage with tasting tours in Bari and Lecce, as well as on drives along roads lined with olive groves between Castel del Monte and Ostuni.

You could also choose to stay in a hotel built entirely within the Sassi caves of Matera, or in traditional Pugliese trulli buildings, with their archetypal pointed roof tops.

For a visual treat, you can follow a guided cycling tour around the Baroque landmarks of Lecce. Or, opt for a privately guided walking tour to fully appreciate the whitewashed beauty of Ostuni, the 17th-century architecture of Galatina, or the conical roof tops of Alberobello with their decorative and symbolic markings.

5. Southern Italy & the Amalfi Coast

The home of taste-bud enticing street food, narrow alleyways with high-slung, criss-crossing washing lines, and a lively social scene, Naples is the heart of Southern Italy and a vibrant inclusion in a tour of Italy. You may choose to explore the omnipresent Mount Vesuvius, and the towns it buried at Pompeii and Herculaneum, indulge yourself in chic Capri, or unwind beside the dramatic Amalfi Coast .

Naples will form the beginning and end of any trip to this region, via its international airport. Beyond the city, private cars with drivers and accompanying guides can take you between highlights, including Sorrento, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Amalfi, and Positano. For a slice of luxury, take a private boat to the island of Capri.

Steeped in haunting historical remnants, Pompeii and Herculaneum offer an insight into everyday life over two thousand years ago. Walking both sites in the company of a guide will provide you with expert perspectives on the archaeological findings, and bring to life the relics surrounding you.

For a culinary focus on the region, you may choose to explore Naples under the guidance of a local gastronome, who can lead you to some of the best food spots among the maze of narrow alleyways. If you want to learn the culinary tricks for yourself, we can arrange an individual cooking class in a local family home, where you’ll learn the secrets behind typical Southern Italian meals.

6. Sicily heritage tour

From the diversity of its landscapes to the myriad of different influences on its architecture, dialect, and cuisine, Sicily is culturally distinct from the rest of Italy. You can choose to climb the volatile Mount Etna, taste wine cultivated on volcanic soil, stroll around the ancient Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, or indulge in the chocolate capital of Modica.

Sicily has two international airports at Palermo and Catania, so it’s easy to experience the island’s highlights between the two. We can arrange for a private driver to take you from place to place. We like starting in Palermo and heading south to Agrigento, then east to Ragusa and Modica, on to Syracuse and Taormina, before finishing with a trip up Mount Etna.

Peppered with archaeological remains and architectural treasures, you can easily spend an entire trip to Sicily awestruck by relics of the past. We can unlock these sites for you, with a private guide who will accompany you around Palermo, the Roman mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale, the classical Greek temples at Agrigento, and the Teatro Greco — core of the ancient Greek city of Syracuse.

You’ll find any trip on the eastern side of Sicily is dominated by the omnipresent Mount Etna, the most active volcano in Europe. Taking a guided tour up to its multiple craters with a volcanologist gets you as close as is safely possible to its alien landscape of steaming vents, hot stones, and black volcanic dust.

7. Culture & coast in Sardinia

Land of soaring peaks, outlandish rock formations, luxurious yachts, and crystalline waters, Sardinia has been a European playground for generations. But it was also an important Bronze Age settlement and has a traditional farming culture with a reputation for producing delectable cheese. The island is easy to self-drive, and we can arrange an array of experiences that allow you to connect with its people along the way.

Flying into Cagliari, you’ll find yourself right in the heart of this island’s glamorous capital city. The roads are of high quality here, and self-drive tours are the best way to cherry-pick your own highlights. They may include the Bronze Age remains at Su Nuraxi di Barumini or the multihued streets of Oliena, before heading north to the luxurious Costa Smeralda.

Punctuating your self-drive trip with private guided tours gives you the best chance to really understand the sights on this island. You may choose to have a private walking tour of the old town of Cagliari, or be lead through the Su Nuraxi di Barumini archaeological site by an expert in Bronze Age history. For some down-time, you can sit back and relax as a qualified skipper sails you out over the translucent waters that surround the island.

Cheese tasting is a quintessential experience on Sardinia. For a behind-the-scenes look, you could spend time with a flock of sheep and goats in the company of their shepherd. There, you’ll learn the traditional culture behind cheesemaking, giving you a far more profound understanding of each variety’s nuances.

8. Italy’s great outdoors

Not simply a country of architectural marvels, fabulous food, and notable galleries, Italy’s landscapes cry out to be explored. From kayaking the caves of Sorrento to hiking the Path of the Gods on the Amalfi Coast and learning the art of truffle hunting in Tuscany , we can find activities to match all of your interests on an outdoor based Italy trip.

The choice of routes is almost endless. It may be that you want to start in the north of Italy, flying into Milan before heading to Lake Como, where you can use exclusive boats and public ferries to explore. Trains can whisk you down to Tuscany to venture through the Chianti region or onto Naples, where private drivers will take you to Positano and the Amalfi Coast. Kayaks are the perfect way to gently paddle between caves here before heading back to Naples for your international flight.

We can arrange for private guides to accompany you on many different walking tours. From exploring picturesque towns such as Bellagio on the edge of Lake Como, or the hilltop sanctuaries of San Gimignano and Siena in Tuscany, to rural trails that take advantage of the sweeping scenery, like the Path of the Gods, high up above the Amalfi Coast.

If food is your passion, you may choose to spend the morning walking through the woodlands of Tuscany with a local truffle expert and his dog, as they search for these illusive treasures buried in the ground.

For a remote adventure, the secluded beaches and hidden caves of the Bay of Ieranto on the Sorrento Peninsular lie at the heat of the marine protected area of Punta Campanella and we can arrange for you to have a guided kayak tour around these pristine waters.

9. Lakes & mountains of Northern Italy

While many trips to Italy focus on the highlights of the culture-rich towns and cities, those seeking more remote treasures might enjoy heading north into the lake district that borders the alpine hinterland of the Dolomite Mountains . From a walking tour of Verona to hiking up Val di Genova to the Nardis waterfall, or relaxing on the shores of Lake Garda , you can choose a rural respite that meets your interests.

Verona’s international airport is the gateway to a trip exploring the mountains of Northern Italy. From there, we can arrange a private driver to take you up into the Dolomites and transfer you between destinations for your whole trip. Once in the lake district, Lake Garda’s Sirmione, Bardolino, and Garda are all easily accessible by local ferry.

Not just a starting point, Verona is also a destination city in its own right, and you can explore it on a walking tour that takes in the frescoes of Basilica di Santa Anastasia. You may also wish to sample some of the region’s highly regarded amarone wine here, or visit the house inspired by Shakespeare’s Juliet.

With fresh mountain streams, flower-laden meadows, and soaring mountain backdrops, the walking trail at Val di Genova is well known for its numerous waterfalls that cascade into the Sarca River. We can arrange for guides to go with you or recommend the best routes to explore it on your own.

At Lake Garda, you can enjoy a wine tasting tour of a boutique vineyard, a guided visit to Vittoriale degli Italiani, once owned by the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, or a trip to the historic town of Sirmione.

10. Naples & the island of Ischia

If you have read Elena Ferrante’s trilogy, the Neapolitan Novels , you’ll have a good sense of the island of Ischia , just off the coast of Naples . It has long been a respite destination for Neapolitans and is slowly becoming more popular with inquisitive visitors from further afield. Combining the heady, cultural excitement of Naples with the calm, thermal beauty of Ischia will give you a well-balanced trip in the south of Italy.

Flying in and out of Naples International Airport, you’ll spend some time in the city before taking the ferry to Ischia for some relaxation. You’ll have a private driver for your time in Naples and on the island.

Naples is a hive of energy, best explored on foot, from its narrow alleyways to its bustling piazzas. You can enjoy a private guided walking tour of the city to help find your sense of direction among the labyrinthine streets. We can also arrange a guide to accompany you through the Naples Archaeological Museum, where you can examine original relics from Pompeii.

While on Ischia, you may want to soak in one of the island’s bubbling, curative thermal pools. They’re fed by the volcanic fault line linked to nearby Vesuvius, and we can lead you to the best of its many restorative springs.

The island is also a renowned hiking destination, and we can recommend trails that climb over volcanic rock, across verdant vineyards, and through remote chestnut woodlands to viewpoints high above the shimmering coastline.

Read more about trips to Italy

Italy's art cities: Venice, Florence & Rome

10 days from $6,935pp

Lakes & mountains of Italy

10 days from $9,625pp

Classic Italy tour: Rome, Venice, Florence & Tuscany

13 days from $13,085pp

Start thinking about your experience. These itineraries are simply suggestions for how you could enjoy some of the same experiences as our specialists. They're just for inspiration, because your trip will be created around your particular tastes.

Further reading

• Italy’s art cities: Venice, Florence and Rome
• A guide to the regions of Italy
• Food highlights of Italy
• Luxury vacations in Italy
• Best family vacations in Italy

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US women's volleyball settles for silver after being swept by Italy in Olympics final

PARIS – By the time they'd reached the gold medal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics against Italy, members of the United States women's volleyball team liked to joke that, since Plan A through E hadn't come together, they were on Plan F.

And that had evolved into Plan "eff you," according to setter and captain Jordyn Poulter.

The plan ended with a silver medal, as Italy swept the Americans (25-18, 25-20, 25-17) in a match that lasted 81 minutes to deny Team USA a second consecutive gold medal. 

Injuries and inconsistent play in the months leading up to the tournament – those factors denying them opportunities to play together and left them patching together rosters when they could – had everyone within the program thinking their Olympic run may not last long, Poulter said. They hoped they would. But hope isn't enough.

"I don’t know what we had done as a team to make anyone, even ourselves, believe we would get here," Poulter said.

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The Americans entered the court Sunday to Metallica’s "Enter Sandman." The "beast under their bed" turned out to be Italy.

Italy controlled the proceedings immediately and led 6-1 in the first set. The second was more tightly contested but the Italians pulled away during the middle portions of the frame. And in the third, the U.S. found itself down early once again. Two aces to make it 12-6 provided the death knell. Italy had the momentum, and the decidedly pro-Italian crowd certainly helped. 

"It-a-lia! It-a-lia!" they chanted. 

When Jordan Thompson's strike landed out of bounds, the team wearing blue (Italy) collapsed on the floor in a sea of hugs and lifted libero Monica de Gennaro in the air.

"They are the best team in the world right now," Poulter said. "I don’t think there’s much more that we could have done."

Poulter said there was a level of pride making it to the final day of the Games. A lot of this team grew up watching Michael Phelps, and that they realize gold is the standard and expectation in America.

"But it is not an easy feat, to medal at the Olympics," she said.  

Most of the U.S. team plays professionally in Italy, the pro infrastructure is world-class. That level of competition is what they face every night in the Italian League. 

Italy’s opposite hitter Paola Egonu supplied the bulk of her team’s attack, as she went off for 22 kills and was by far the best player on the court. 

"You can have a game plan against her, and she can manage to find angles … she’s an incredible player," Poulter said. 

The USA struggled to negotiate Italy’s block in the middle, aside from Thompson, who finished with a team-best eight kills. Lefty outside hitter Avery Skinner had seven.

"So proud of this team and this group," Thompson said. "I really think we left absolutely everything we had out there." 

Italy finished with seven aces. Five came in the third set.

These Games had not been the most dominant run for the U.S. despite the silver medal. The Americans dropped their first match of the tournament to China, went five sets the next match against Serbia and battled Brazil in a back-and-forth five-setter during the semifinals Thursday. 

"All of those pushed us to the absolute limit," coach Karch Kiraly said.

Italy, meanwhile, lost one set in its opening match against the Dominican Republic and then won 15 consecutive sets on the way to gold.

That the silver medalists are the lone team on the podium to celebrate their accomplishments in the immediate aftermath of a loss was bittersweet, Kiraly said.

"But this group has done phenomenal things in these 17 days," Kiraly said. "I don’t know that we knew how much we had in us and we showed (it). … It gives me goosebumps."

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Olympic bronze medalists win gold in Hamburg

Beach Volleyball News

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Paris Olympic bronze medalists Nina Brunner and Tanja Hüberli of Switzerland and Anders Mol and Christian Sørum of Norway led European teams to a dominant performance at this week’s Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Hamburg Elite16, which resulted in five of the six medals in play staying in the continent.

With teams from Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Spain and the Netherlands making it to the podium at the Am Rothenbaum Stadium, the continent earned gold and silver among the women and took all three medals on the men’s side.

In the women’s final, Paris medalists Brunner and Hüberli were slightly better than recently-crowned European champions Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann of Germany to produce a 2-1 (21-18, 18-21, 18-16) victory in their opponents’ home sand.

It was just the second international victory for the Swiss, who have been partners since 2016 and only got to celebrate their first gold medals on the Beach Pro Tour four months ago, in Tepic, Mexico.

“That Tepic victory was huge, it feels like we needed it. We waited a long time for it and had to fight really hard for it. After that, it feels like we have more stability and confidence in tight matches. We’re super happy that we managed to get another win here in Hamburg.”

Europe was one win away from taking all three medals on the women’s side too, but EuroBeachVolley silver medalists Marta Menegatti and Valentina Gottardi of Italy were upset by Brazilians Thamela Coradello and Victoria Lopes and lost in two sets (21-19, 21-19), finishing fourth.

In the men’s final, Mol and Sørum were dominant against Spanish Pablo Herrera, who played the last match in his international career, and Adrián Gavira to triumph in straight sets (21-15, 21-11) and celebrate their second title in the season, following a victory in Vienna in July.

In Hamburg, the Beach Volley Vikings stepped at the top of the podium in an international event for the 24 th time, which made of them the second most successful team in men’s beach volleyball history, only behind Brazilians Ricardo Santos and Emanuel Rego, who have 34 titles – they passed Americans Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser, who had 23 victories.

“That means we still have at least ten more victories to go get (laughs). It’s really unbelievable. Just being on the same range of guys like Rogers, Dalhausser, Emanuel and Ricardo is something we could never even hope for. Seeing the Norwegian flag together with Brazil and the USA when it comes to beach volleyball is even a little bit weird, but we’re not done yet, we want to keep going.”

Dutch Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot overcame Italians Paolo Nicolai and Samuele Cottafava in the two-set (21-18, 21-13) bronze medal match in Hamburg and completed the all-European podium.

The event in Hamburg also marked the international retirement of German legend Laura Ludwig, who finished fifth with partner Louisa Lippmann. A Rio 2016 Olympic champion and a five-time Olympian, she will play professionally for the last time next weekend, in the German Championship.

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Paris awaits: U of A athletes will go for gold at 2024 Paralympic Games

University of Arizona alumnus Josh Wheeler practices passing drills in Campus Recreation's SouthREC facility. Wheeler will travel to Paris for the 2024 Paralympics, where he will play for Team USA's men's wheelchair rugby team. He was a member of the silver-medalist teams at both the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and the 2020 games in Tokyo.

Logan Burtch-Buus/University Communications

Josh Wheeler  flashes a smile as he races across the basketball court. Arms pumping furiously, hands pushing against the wheels of his new wheelchair, his eyes track a red-and-white striped ball as it sails through the air over his left shoulder.

Josh Wheeler warms up for practice.

The ball comes up short, landing just inches behind Wheeler's chair as he nears the end of the court. Eyes trained on his target, he comes to a quick stop, turns, reaches out and grasps the ball with one hand as his chair tips on to one wheel.

Quite the precarious position.

At first glance it may seem like a near-accident, but the maneuver only causes Wheeler to laugh as he warms up for practice at the University of Arizona Campus Recreation's SouthREC facility. Wheeler can be found in the gym three days a week, running drills with his teammates. After passing exercises and wind sprints, Wheeler ends the training session tired and sweating – though his smile remains.

Belying his upbeat demeanor, Wheeler takes his training seriously. In just over a week, he and the other members of Team USA's wheelchair rugby squad will face off against the Canadian national team in the preliminary rounds of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

In addition to wearing the stars and stripes for Team USA, Wheeler was a longtime member of the U of A's wheelchair rugby team and is a recent graduate of the Eller College of Management . He moved from Oregon to Tucson, his wife's hometown, in 2015 and enrolled at the university in 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Wheeler earned a bachelor's degree in business administration before completing his online master's degree in accounting in May. 

Taking on Canada in the Champ-de-Mars Arena won't be Wheeler's first time playing on the world stage. A longtime member of Team USA's wheelchair rugby squad, he was a member of the silver-medalist teams at both the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and the 2020 games in Tokyo. 

This year, Wheeler's mind is set on winning gold in front of his family.

Josh Wheeler tapes his wrists before practice.

"I want to be able to play at the top of my game – as close to perfect as possible – and dial in some of the stuff that I have worked on a lot over the years," he said. "Tokyo was very quiet, and to be able to have my family in Paris is something I'm really excited for. To know they are there supporting me is going to be really cool."

Wheeler will travel to Paris alongside some of the sport's preeminent athletes. The USA national wheelchair rugby team is the world's most decorated Paralympic wheelchair program, and the only wheelchair rugby program to win a medal at every Paralympic Games since the sport was added in 2000. Team USA will compete against Canada in the first round of preliminary games before taking on Japan and Germany. The results of those three matches will determine the team's standing moving forward in the contest, and whether Team USA will have a chance to go for its first gold in the sport since 2008.

"Team USA has a balanced lineup and a lot of players that are really good," Wheeler said. "If we play our game, it will be hard for anybody in the world to beat us."

Hoops and dreams

Blaise Mutware

Adaptive Athletics

While Wheeler and his teammates compete for gold in wheelchair rugby, other former and current Wildcats will compete in a variety of sports at this year's Paralympic Games. Among them is Blaise Mutware , a graduate student studying marketing who represents Canada in men's wheelchair basketball.

"Canada has a strong legacy in the sport," he said. "We've won three gold medals, and a silver as well. I just want to make the country proud."

Mutware made his national team debut at the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru, where Canada won silver and qualified for the 2020 Paralympic Games. The Canadian team ended in eighth place in Tokyo, improved to sixth at the 2023 International Wheelchair Basketball Federation World Championships and won bronze at the 2023 Parapan American Games. 

When he's not representing Canada on the basketball court, Mutware is a member of the U of A men's wheelchair basketball team. He joined the Wildcats in 2021 and said his time in Tucson is directly responsible for his development as an athlete.

"I have been able to take a larger role since the last Paralympics, and be more aggressive," Mutware said. "I have always had my defense down pat, but I was able to work on my offense and read the court – and going to the University of Arizona allowed me to step into a leadership role. I was pretty new in Tokyo, but I am older now, more mature."

Mutware and the rest of the Canadian national team earned their tickets to Paris in April after defeating Italy at the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation Repechage Tournament in Antibes, France. Canada's first match of the Paralympics is against France, which Mutware said will allow his team to work through first game jitters in front of an exciting crowd.

"We are a strong defensive team," he said. "We have been together for a while now, so there is a lot of cohesion and a lot of chemistry – and we need to bring that to Paris. We have one of the best players in the world with Pat Anderson, and a lot of great shooters on our team. What we lack in good height, we make up for in aggressiveness and speed."

Following their match against France, Mutware and his teammates will play Great Britain and Germany. The results of the preliminary round will determine the rest of the matches.

Wildcats in Paris

Wheelchair and other adaptive sports at the U of A are supported by the university's Adaptive Athletics Program , housed in the Disability Resource Center . In its 50-year history, Adaptive Athletics has sent 51 athletes to the Paralympics, won national championships and earned recognition as a leader in the adaptive and wheelchair sports community. 

In addition to Wheeler and Mutware, the following current and former Wildcat student-athletes and coaches will compete in wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, sitting volleyball, wheelchair tennis and track and field. They will represent three different countries – the United States, Australia and Canada.

Women's Wheelchair Basketball

Josie Aslakson (Team USA) is a U of A alumna and the head coach of the women's wheelchair basketball team. She previously won bronze at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. 

Melanie Hawtin  (Canada) was a community member of the U of A women's wheelchair basketball team and will compete in her third Paralympic Games.

Courtney Ryan   (Team USA) is a U of A alumna and the assistant coach of the women's wheelchair basketball team. She also won bronze at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.

Natalie Schneider  (Team USA) was a community member of the U of A women's wheelchair basketball team and is the Team USA captain. Paris is Schneider's fifth Paralympic appearance. She won gold in 2008 and 2016, bronze in 2020 and finished in fourth place in 2012.

Men's Wheelchair Basketball

Phil Evans  (Australia) is a U of A alumnus competing in his first Paralympics.

Wheelchair Rugby

Chuck Aoki  (Team USA) previously attended the U of A and is Team USA's co-captain. Paris will be his fourth Paralympics after he won silver in 2016 and 2020 and bronze in 2012. He also holds gold, silver and two bronze from the World Wheelchair Rugby Championships.

Lee Fredette  (Team USA) is a two-time silver medalist and was a community member of the U of A wheelchair rugby team. He previously represented Team USA in the 2016 and 2020 Paralympic Games.

Rio Kanda Kovac  (Canada) is an undergraduate student pursuing an interdisciplinary studies degree and is competing in their first Paralympic Games. Most recently they secured a sixth-place finish at the 2024 Canada Cup and was a silver medalist at the 2024 Paralympic Qualification Tournament.

Chuck Melton (Team USA) was a community member of the men's wheelchair rugby team and will represent the United States in his third Paralympics. He won silver in 2016 and 2020, as well as silver and two bronze from the World Wheelchair Rugby Championships.

Josh O'Neal  (Team USA) was a community member of the U of A wheelchair rugby team and is competing in his first Paralympic Games. He joined the Team USA training roster in 2022 and won a silver medal at the 2022 Wheelchair Rugby World Championships.

Sitting Volleyball

Whitney Dosty   (Team USA) won gold at the 2020 Paralympics. She previously played standing volleyball for the U of A and transitioned to sitting volleyball after an ankle injury ended her career. She was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team in 2006.

Wheelchair Tennis

Dana Mathewson  (Team USA) is a two-time Paralympian who previously placed fifth in singles and ninth in doubles in 2020, and ninth in singles and fifth in doubles in 2016. She previously attended the U of A on an athletic scholarship.

Track and Field

Chelsea Stein   (Team USA) is an undergraduate student and member of the U of A wheelchair racing team competing in her first Paralympic Games. She made her international debut at the 2023 Parapan American Games in the 100-meter T53 category, where she earned a silver medal.

The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympics in Paris will take place Aug. 28 at 11 a.m. (MST) on NBC, Peacock and Telemundo. 

Resources for the Media

Logan Burtch-Buus News Writer [email protected] 520-609-1383

Peter Hughes Adaptive Athletics [email protected] 520-626-5499

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