There's an International Beach Volleyball Tournament Happening at Mylopotas Every Summer

Panayiotis Drakos
Jun 22
2 min read

There's an International Beach Volleyball Tournament Happening at Mylopotas.

Panayiotis — Founder of Methyra, third-generation Ios local

Most people arrive in Mylopotas with one thing in mind. The beach, the music, the sun. That's the version of this place that lives on Instagram. It's real and of course it's great.

But this week something else is happening at the sand. And if you're here for it, stop walking. You'll want to watch.

Ios is hosting an official FIVB Beach Volleyball tournament.

The FIVB Beach Pro Tour Futures is one of the stops on the global professional beach volleyball circuit, the same organisation that runs the sport at the Olympics. This year Ios is on the calendar from June 18 to 21, with both men's and women's competitions. International teams. Real stakes.

It's not the first time. Ios has been hosting this tournament for a few years.

I told myself I'd watch for a couple of minutes.

I'll be honest, I've walked past volleyball nets on beaches my whole life and never really stopped.

Then a Greek team was playing.

An hour later I was still there. Shouting.

That's the thing about beach volleyball when it's played at this level. The court is small. The players are right there. Every point is loud and immediate, and when the crowd reacts, you feel it in your chest. I didn't know I was a fan. Turns out I am.

Mylopotas is a bigger place than people think.

If your picture of this beach is only music and sunbeds, you're not wrong. Mylopotas is also one of the longest, most open beaches in the Cyclades. It has the space to host events that other island beaches simply can't. A tournament on the FIVB world circuit doesn't land just anywhere. It's landing here.

Come for the game. Stay for dinner.

After two sets of watching athletes throw themselves across the sand, you're going to be hungry. Methyra is right here at Mylopotas, open every evening. Pull up a chair, order something cold, and tell me which team you were cheering for.