Thousands take part of Volley Fest in Santo Domingo

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, November 27, 2012 – The East Santo Domingo Public School Volleyball Festival began here on Monday with the participation of 1,728 students of both genders.

The activity took place at the multi-purpose Invivienda Gymnasium and is organized by the Physical Education Institute in collaboration with the FIVB Regional Development Center in the Dominican Republic.

The players of ages between 10-15 years-old are divided in 144 teams -72 male and 72 female – and the number of participants was so big that only part of the teams was able to be inside of the facility.

The NORCECA Confederation is contributing with the playing equipment, which includes balls, nets and antennas, and also with the proper training of the teachers.

“We are very pleased to open this competition at the grassroots level with the participation of so many boys and girls,” Nelson Ramirez, director of the centre, said. “Volleyball at schools is very important to attract the kids to our sport at a tender age and to expand its popularity in the country.”

As part of its global development plan, NORCECA Confederation is stimulating all its national federations to initiate volleyball programs at the school level as a way to spread out the sport in the continent.

The opening ceremony was attended by Danilo Mesa, executive director of the Dominican Republic Physical Education Institute, and municipal authorities of the East Santo Domingo Province.