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Marte Hoffiz recipient of Rising Sun Order

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, December 7, 2020 - Cristóbal Marte Hoffiz, First Executive Vice President of FIVB and President of NORCECA Confederation, was honored by His Majesty Naruhito, Emperor of Japan, with the Order of the Rising Sun in the class of Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.

The decoration imposed on his residence by the Japanese ambassador to the Dominican Republic, His Excellency Hiroyuki Makiuchi, was awarded in recognition of Mr. Marte Hoffiz's contributions to the close relations between Japan and the Dominican Republic, as well as the other countries in the region.

In his order speech, Ambassador Makiuchi recounted the participation of the National Women's Volleyball Team in many world events held in Japan, its training bases in various Japanese cities, and the use of Japanese manufactured products as official trademarks in NORCECA competitions.

Ambassador Makiuchi also referred to the Queens of the Caribbean, as the Dominican Team is known, considering them as a pride of international volleyball and the Dominican people while highlighting their positioning for many years as one of the ten best teams in the world.

The diplomat described Marte Hoffiz as a great friend of Japan and recalled the sports exchanges promoted by him in his long career as a sports leader and public official.

Marte Hoffiz, who presides over the Women’s Program of the Dominican Federation, thanked Emperor Naruhito for his gesture by awarding him a decoration that he declared that he accepts on behalf of the Dominican people and that he will keep in a special place because of what it means to him and his family.

At the request of Ambassador Makiuchi, Luis Mejía Oviedo and Dr. José Joaquín Puello, President and Ad Vitam President, respectively, of the Dominican Olympic Committee, Franklin de la Mota, Vice Minister of Sports and Alberto Rodríguez, Vice Minister of the Presidency also spoke and referred to the attributes of the honoree and the fruitful Dominican-Japanese relations.

Also attending as guests were Mr. Abraham Marte Messina and his wife Renata de Marte, Mme Trini Messina Lluberes, Ramón García, president of the Dominican Volleyball Federation, Arateide Cáceres and Roosevelt Comarazamy, general director and director of communications, respectively, of the NORCECA Confederation, and Milagros Cabral, SENAFE executive.

Those attending the intimate ceremony were received by Ambassador Makiuchi and Mrs. Makiuchi, as well as Mr. Takayuki Kondo, representative of the Japan Cooperation Agency in the Dominican Republic.