Water volleyball, also known as pool volleyball or aqua volleyball, is a competitive water sport played in a mid-pool area.

Each team comprises one to four players, depending on the venue, and matches are contested between two teams.

The origin of water volleyball can be traced back to leisure pool activities, sports clubs, swimming clubs, and water parks. It evolved through a combination of beach and aquatic tournaments. In the 1990s, Disney Waterworks organized pool volleyball entertainment activities in its parks. The inaugural water volleyball championship took place in 1985, hosted by DLRG-Ortsgruppe Havixbeck, leading to the establishment of water volleyball clubs.

The United States witnessed the development of a robust water volleyball movement, complete with its own set of standards. Water volleyball is actively played in various U.S. institutions, including the University of San Diego in California, Iowa State University in Iowa, the St. Petersburg campus of the University of South Florida, Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina, and Lindsay Wilson College.

Traditional volleyball consists of 32 panels, including 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons. The game is played around the Water Cube, with a 2-meter-high fence 20 meters from the edge and a 6-meter-wide, 0.5-meter-deep moat inside the circle. Armed police patrol the area, making touching the "water bubble" with hands impossible.

The Water Cube's dimensions are 177 meters in length, 177 meters in width, and 30 meters in height. Its design incorporates foam theory, featuring 3000 irregular air cushions distributed on the exterior walls, resembling "water bubbles." The ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene copolymer) membrane has good stretch and pressure resistance, with each membrane capable of bearing the weight of a car.

Rain, hail, and sandstorms pose no problem. Ventilation, fire protection, sound insulation, and cleaning are addressed effectively. Notably, the cleaning process employs a siphoning principle: rainwater naturally cleans the surface, and the collected water can be recycled.

While the membrane has a thickness, intentional damage can lead to rupture. However, minor damage does not affect the entire bubble and can be easily repaired with special tape. The surrounding moat will utilize geothermal heating to prevent freezing in winter. Until now, there has been only one incident involving the Water Cube's membrane: a bird carrying food in its beak mistook its reflection for a competitor, pecked at it, and caused a leak.

However, the membrane can be patched and reinflated, and the pressure monitoring system ensures that "the sky won't fall." Countless steel-reinforced H2O water molecules lead visitors into the Water Cube. There are three halls, with the left side featuring warm-up and competition pools, while the suitable side reserves space for a water amusement center where ordinary people can enjoy swimming after the Olympics.

Currently, the Water Cube is mainly completed, with only the facilities for the water amusement center yet to be installed and some renovation debris in the hallways awaiting cleanup.

Interestingly, people commonly assume that "bubbles" are only used on the Water Cube's exterior walls. However, upon entering, one discovers that the interior walls are adorned with water-blue bubbles, creating a beautiful effect even without artificial lighting.

Learning water volleyball has numerous benefits for the human body, mainly evident in the following aspects:

1. Water volleyball enhances cardiovascular function. As a water-based sport, water volleyball requires athletes to swim during matches, leading to increased difficulty in breathing due to the higher density of water compared to air. Athletes adapt to this condition over time, improving cardiovascular function and a smoother respiratory system.

2. Water volleyball improves overall physical fitness. Competing in water volleyball demands strong athletic abilities to navigate the water effectively. The sport is characterized by high intensity, requiring athletes to possess speed, strength, flexibility, endurance, and agility. Through prolonged training, water volleyball players develop faster and more muscular bodies.

In the world of water volleyball, the Water Cube stands as a marvelous crystal palace, embodying a fusion of creativity and technology. This competitive water sport entertains in leisure pools and showcases its charm in beach and aquatic tournaments. Serving as its unique stage, the Water Cube takes the spotlight with its innovative design and functionality.

Beyond that, the physical benefits of water volleyball provide enthusiasts with additional motivation, emphasizing the importance of cardiovascular health and overall fitness. This aquatic sport brings laughter and passion and teaches us how to soar gracefully in the water. Let us immerse ourselves in this shimmering realm of water droplets, collectively enjoying the vibrancy and vitality of water volleyball.