Beach Volleyball Tournament coming to Cayman

(CNS): With the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) Beach Circuit Volleyball Tournament kick off date quickly approaching, the Cayman Islands have begun preparing for what could be the largest international sporting event the island has ever seen. The tournament will last three days (27 – 29 March) and will feature as many as 32 men’s and women’s teams, including teams from Cayman, according to a release from Cayman Islands Volleyball Association (CIVF). (Left: the Canadian team that will be competing in action)

“We are extremely privileged to host the first leg of the 2009 tour which includes Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Puerto Vallarta (Mexico), Pachuca (Mexico), Veracruz (Mexico), Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Toronto (Canada), Nicaragua and Barbados,” said Cayman Islands Volleyball Federation (CIVF) President Noel Williams.

Sports Minister Alden McLaughlin added, “The Ministry of Sports is delighted to lend our support to an international sporting event of this caliber. We hope that having the opportunity to watch teams of skilled male and female players competing at this level will encourage more of our youth to take up the sport and become volleyball players.

The event, which is sponsored by the Ministry of Sports, FirstCaribbean International Bank, the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee, Jaques Scott, Z99, Cayman Free Press, Celebrations, Comfort Suites, K-Tone, Digital Designs, The Wharf, Artista Salon, The Red Cross, Tower Marketing, Gatorade, and Progressive Distributors, promises to be a huge success and admission is free to the public.

Managing Director at FirstCaribbean International Bank Tom Crawford said, “We are pleased to be one of the major sponsors of this event, it will be nice to see such an internationally accredited competition take place on the spectacular beaches of Cayman.”

The Cayman Islands Olympic Committee (CIOC) is assisting the CIVF with some of the funding needs for this regional event, and will work with the CIVF towards the success of the tournament. It is hoped that through this tournament and subsequent ones throughout the region in the coming months the Cayman Islands will qualify a Beach Volleyball team to participate in the Caribbean Games 2009 in Trinidad & Tobago in July.

For more information on the event visit the CIFV website or call Michelle Carter at 623-6712