Modern Volleyball facilities under construction in Haiti

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, February 26, 2014 – The Olympic Center of Haiti, a sport complex that includes one indoor gymnasium with all the standard specifications to play volleyball plus two multi-purpose practice courts, will be inaugurated at the end of May or early June.

Mr. Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, President of NORCECA Confederation, made the announcement at the conclusion of the annual meetings of all the commissions of the continental volleyball and beach volleyball governing body.

The opening date is being coordinated by the International Olympic Committee’s cabinet and that of the President of Haiti, H. E. Michel Martelly.

“The height of the indoor gymnasium was redesigned, to our request, in order to comply with all the international specifications to play volleyball,” Marte Hoffiz explained. “That is a key step towards developing volleyball in the country bringing some international competitions of NORCECA.”

The complex also includes outdoor multi-purpose courts as well as beach volleyball courts and Marte Hoffiz informed that three outdoor Sport Court volleyball playing surfaces have been donated by NORCECA Confederation this year in addition to one provided in 2013.

The synthetic playing surfaces in the multi-purpose practice halls will be laid as of mid-March with the one in the indoor gym expected to be completed by the end of April or early May.

“We plan to continue helping the neighbor country that was devastated by the terrible earthquake in 2010,”Marte Hoffiz said in reference to Haiti, who shares one third of the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. “We have intensified our support with the donation of sport equipment to Haiti and also with the organization of several courses and clinics in a combined effort with FIVB.”

“Our goal is to change the lives of many young Haitians who love to practice sport,” Marte Hoffiz stated. “It is a social responsibility we have with the people living in Haiti under extremely difficult situation.”

The International Olympic Committee and several International Sport Federations are contributing in the construction of the Olympic Center of Haiti located outside of Port-au-Prince, the capital of the country, the poorest nation in the western hemisphere.

The report of progress to donating International Federations and National Olympic Committees made on January 31, 2014 states that “constructions is progressing reasonably well though 90 % of the materials have to be imported.”

“Most of the donated and purchased sports equipment, maintenance equipment, furniture and other sporting goods have now been received at a warehouse in Miami, USA and will be delivered once the storage spaces are secured with the planned arrival on the second half of March,” the report concludes.