Maricarmen Duran, on her way as ambassador of Mexican International Referees

TIJUANA, Mexico, August 10 2012 — Maria del Carmen Duran has become a very important representative of Mexican volleyball as a referee.

Duran is the only woman assigned as international officer for the Norceca Women’s U18 Continental Championship in Tijuana Mexico. She had the responsibility to make the Referees Oath at the Opening Ceremony.

She also has been nominated to other international competitions that have projected her as an ambassador of volleyball and Mexican sport outside her country.

For the last years she has participated in very important events such as the XVI Pan American Games of Guadalajara 2011, the Women’s U20 Pan American Cup in Lima, Peru; and also the London 2012 Olympic Qualifier Tournament, celebrated in Baja California, Mexico.

During this last competition she had the chance to alternate with two other referees of the Norceca region, like Puerto Rico’s Aixa Sanfiorenzo and Lourdes Perez, from Cuba.

Women’s work as referees has received a very special recognition by FIVB President, Mr. Jizhong Wei.

An on the same way, Maria del Carmen has worked in grassroots level competitions in her country such as the National Elementary School Games, that were celebrated in Monterrey, Mexico. She was one of the referees assigned to officiate at the Mini-Volleyball contest.

Hence the Norceca Volleyball Confederation has promoted strongly the work and career of Women in many areas. Tournament referees are just one task force as a collective effort in favor of gender equity and a greater integration of women.

Also, International competitions like the U18 Continental Championship celebrated in Tijuana this august, are a good stage for some other national referees who like Maria del Carmen wish to get a chance to prepare and open more doors in this very important task in volleyball.

“I am very proud for being a referee,” says Duran. “Working in events like this  is big chance for us and I think we can see more women as referees in a near future, doing a good job like men”.