Barbados to host World Championship games...

Local sports fans will be treated to more exciting volleyball at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex June 15 to 19 this year as Barbados has been invited to stage Norceca’s first round play-off men’s Group A and women’s Group B games of the 2006 World Championships.

When the draws were done Rome, Italy by the president of FIVB, Dr. Rueben Acosta and the Mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni, Barbados’ reputation for its volleyball sports management saw the General Manager of FIVB, Jean-Pierre Seppey immediately sending a fax to Barbados inviting the local association to host the first round play-offs for Norceca’s men Group A and the women’s Group B.
Barbados is the only English-speaking Caribbean country to date to host a Norceca senior team competition. That feat was achieved in 2001 with Cuba defeating the United States in straight sets in the finals at the Wildey Gym.

The Caribbean volleyball kings and queens Barbados have gotten favourable first round draws for the FIVB’s prestigious 2006 World Championships Finals to be held in Japan.

With a record 97 men and 77 women teams from five continents entering the play-offs for the final 24 spots in Japan, the nine times CVC kings have been drawn to play their first round clashes in Norceca’s Group A which also contains the 2004 CVC losing finalists, Jamaica, the challenging Netherlands Antilles, Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands.

The six-times Caribbean queens Barbados have gained an easier first round draw with Barbados landing in pool B along with the lesser rated Anguilla, Dominica and St. Kitts. However, should Barbados men win their first round draw they will have a greater chance than the women while competing in the next round.

Barbados women must win their group to move on to Group D where they will play against the United States, Puerto Rico, Can ada and the winner of Group C. Group C comprises: Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala.

Topping their group will land the Bajan men in a second round pool with the US, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the second placed team from Group C. Group C comprises: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The top two teams will advance to the finals as four male and four female teams will qualify from Norceca.