The Angolan coastal city of Lobito transformed into a vibrant international hub for beach handball and volleyball during the Nordic Beach Week, held from September 15 to 21. Against the breathtaking backdrop of an Atlantic sunset, athletes from the Nordic region, Portugal, Mozambique, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, and the host nation Angola, converged for a memorable week of training, competition, and cultural exchange.
Organized by the Swedish and Norwegian embassies in close collaboration with Angolan partners, the event`s scope extended far beyond competitive matches. The week`s agenda included community beach clean-ups, specialized training sessions for Angolan coaches, shared dinners that fostered camaraderie, and lively dance classes in local styles such as Kizomba and Kuduro. A particularly heartwarming highlight was a “try-it” day, where children from a nearby school had the unique opportunity to experience both beach handball and volleyball alongside elite international athletes, inspiring a new generation of sports enthusiasts.
Sport as Diplomacy
Sweden’s Ambassador to Angola, Lennart Killander Larsson, emphasized the profound diplomatic power of sport, citing Nordic Beach Week as a prime example of how such initiatives can bridge gaps between countries and cultures. He remarked, “This is the first time we have worked with sports diplomacy on this scale to build bridges between countries and people. The commitment is tremendous and transcends culture and language.” Larsson expressed his conviction that all participants, not just the Swedish contingent, would depart with cherished memories. He also acknowledged the crucial support from several Swedish companies, local communities, and government officials at both regional and national levels, which were instrumental in bringing the tournament to fruition.
Swedish Champions Inspire the Next Generation
Among the esteemed participants were Swedish twin sisters Sanna and Tina Thurin, six-time Swedish Beach Volleyball champions, two-time North European champions, and World Tour bronze medallists. Despite their primary focus on volleyball, the chance to share this unique experience with beach handball players and compete side by side offered a completely new dimension to their sporting journey.
Sanna Thurin enthusiastically shared, “It has been so much fun to be part of this trip, especially all the activities we have done together – everything from training sessions to shared dinners, dancing Kizomba and just hanging out on the beach. This is so much more than just training and competing. It is about the relationships that form around it. The sense of togetherness is incredibly strong, and you really see how people can meet and learn from each other through sport.”
Her twin sister Tina added, “We had never taken part in anything like Nordic Beach Week before. Normally it is only pure training camps, with less focus on social aspects. A highlight for me was the kids’ try-out session – when one of the children came up and said, ‘I’m going to start playing this sport,’ it was such a powerful moment. Those are the memories you take home.” The sisters also vividly recalled a magical late-afternoon practice session where several whales gracefully swam past during sunset, just beyond the shoreline. Sanna chuckled, noting, “Us Swedes wanted to stop training right away to watch, but the Namibian players thought it was nothing unusual.”
A Week of Profound Connections
Mattias Magnusson, who coached Beach Volleyball teams from Angola, Namibia, Sweden, and Norway throughout the week, lauded the event`s unique and inclusive atmosphere. “It has been incredible to see people from different countries and cultures truly come together through sport,” he remarked. “Everyone embraced the week and got to know each other. It has been a wonderfully enjoyable and inspiring experience.” Magnusson emphasized that as the weekend`s final matches approached, while excitement was palpable, the ultimate outcomes were secondary. He stated, “The most important thing is the great atmosphere and the sense of community the sport creates among players, coaches and everyone coming here to participate in one way or another.”
Looking Ahead
As Nordic Beach Week concluded, both participants and organizers shared a strong sentiment that something significant had been initiated. The week cultivated new friendships, facilitated enriching shared experiences, and established the foundational steps toward what is hoped to be a lasting Nordic-Angolan collaboration. Sanna Thurin expressed her enthusiasm, “We truly hope Nordic Beach Week becomes a recurring event, and we would gladly return to Lobito. Building international connections through sport is such a special experience, one we hope many more people will have the chance to share.” The initiative, which began as an idea of sports diplomacy, evolved into something far grander than anticipated, serving as a powerful reminder that a simple beach, a ball, and a mutual willingness to connect can indeed forge strong bonds between people and bridge continents.
Finley Blackwood 
Jasper Thornfield