Chinese volleyball tournament returns to San Francisco NBC Bay Area [Video]

It’s not exactly traditional volleyball but Chinese volleyball. The game isn’t as well known in the U.S., but it is a global event.

Every Labor Day weekend, a tournament is played, and this year up to 3,000 players will take part in the 79th annual North American Chinese Invitational Volleyball tournament at San Francisco’s Moscone Center. The event was last held in the city in 2007. It’s a celebration of sports, history, community and family. 

San Francisco natives Justin Lam and Jonathan Lee grew up with Chinese volleyball in their families. The childhood friends started the San Francisco team “Paai Kau Smash.” Paai Kau means volleyball in Chinese.

The game, which started in China, developed in the U.S. during the Chinese Exclusion Act. Former Chinese volleyball player and now coach, Robert Lew, said, “It was during the times where it was really depressed for Asian men. They can’t travel. And, if you’re already in the U.S., …