Hutcheson Sand and Mixes of Huntsville has been busy preparing the volleyball courts for the Summer Olympics in Paris, which begins July 26.
The company has developed a worldwide reputation for its expertise in sourcing, processing, delivering, and monitoring the quality of sand required at FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) events. It also has the contract for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris, which will be the sixth Olympic games Hutcheson Sand and Mixes VP of Sales and Business Development Todd Knapton has been involved in.
“We started in 2000 in Sydney. We did Athens. We did Beijing. We did London, and we did Tokyo, and now we just finished off Paris, 2024. You would think that a lot of places in the world have sand, but they don’t have the right sand,” he explained.
“The FIVB, the Federation, has a spec on sand. There is a criterion that has to be met so that the playing surfaces are equivalent around the world so that athletes go from country to country to country to qualify and then to the Olympics and they’re playing on a uniform playing surface.”
While the company has shipped sand to Dubai for its games in the past, this time, it sourced the product and monitored its production, quality, and delivery.
Knapton said the central court, which took 500 tons of sand and has 14,000 seats, is the largest court built to date. “And then we have five other courts that are for practice and warm-up.”
The game will be played on a temporary court at the base of the Eiffel Tower, so the logistics of delivering the sand were challenging given the busy nature of the area.
“You can’t get a more scenic venue,” said Knapton, noting that when people watch the games on television, they will see the Eiffel Tower as the backdrop. “And the stadium being as big as it is, it’s pretty damn impressive.” He said the London Olympics in front of Buckingham Palace were impressive, and the Paris Olympics are also right up there on the wow scale.
Once the games have occurred, the sand will be dispersed to five other locations. Knapton said it’s a legacy project, and sustainability is important. The sand will go to other facilities, including universities, colleges, and training venues.
Knapton made four trips, each lasting six and seven days, to oversee the project.
The games take place from July 27 to August 11, 2024.
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https://www.fivb.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-olympic-games-paris-2024-beach-volleyball-sand/#:~:text=The%20sand%20will%20be%20provided%20by%20Sibelco%2C%20a%20renowned%2C%20world,Athens%202004
Too bad they don’t give Hutcheson Sand and gravel credit?
Thank you very much for the comments and support from the Community here, in Small Town Huntsville..
It has been the Hutcheson Sand & Mixes goal for over 30 years that I personally have been involved, to provide some of the best Muskoka Sand and Consulting services to the FIVB, International Olympic Games and World events.
This is not without the accolades to our employees and staff that make up Hutcheson Sand, Muskoka Rock Company that allow us to entertain these World markets.
Thank you Rudi, Lynn and all of Muskoka for your interest and support!
Keep an eye on Center Center Court at Paris 2024 Beach Volley Ball Courts and find the Loonie?
Good Luck to ALL of our Canadian Athlete’s and GO FOR GOLD!!!
Best Regards,
Todd Knapton
VP Sales
Hutcheson Sand & Mixes/Muskoka Rock Company
Just want to know if Hutcheson embedded a Loonie in the sand like our hockey and curling ice makers?
GO CANADA GO!!!
Anyone who can sell sand to Dubai deserves respect. That’s right up there with selling refrigerators to Eskimos. Congratulations on your sixth Olympic contract, Mr. Knapton