YOUNGSTERS will get a lift when a week-long festival of youth sports supported by the Royal Air Force hits Weymouth Beach this summer.

The Youth Beach Sport and Sand Soccer tournaments will take place from Monday, July 26, to Thursday, July 29.

The week’s events will culminate in the 2010 volleyball classic championships from Friday, July 30, to Sunday, August 1.

The event will be staged in a specially-constructed sports arena with free grandstand seating for spectators with two show courts, nine outside courts, a marquee village and live music.

Organisers say the annual championship is the ‘Wimbledon’ of beach volleyball and will attract the top 120 two-a-side men’s and women’s beach volleyball teams from throughout the country and overseas players.

The RAF has forged very strong links with Weymouth and Portland for some years, in particular in support of community and sporting events.

Sponsorship of the events this year is worth up to £10,000.

An RAF Careers Information Service spokesman said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to be involved and to sponsor the highly successful beach volleyball classic event.

“It’s a well-established tournament which provides a wonderful experience and an inspiration for all those involved.

“It helps develop many of the skills and qualities which the RAF values highly, such as teamwork, determination, fitness and effective communication. It is our privilege to be able to sponsor this event and, on behalf of the RAF Careers Information Service, I wish every competitor the very best of luck.”

The annual beach sports festival is organised by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s leisure and events teams, with support form Weymouth Beach Volleyball Club and the Dorset Football Association.

Tournament director Graeme Sawyer said: “Working with the team over the past two years has been a great privilege. It has given the championship a boost and allowed the event to develop into Britain’s biggest beach volleyball sporting spectacle.

“We look forward to hosting the best championships to date, attracting large crowds and creating a wonderful atmosphere on the build-up to the 2012 games.”