Mireya Luis applauded at the inauguration of the Sub 18 in Honduras

Tegucigalpa, Honduras. August 27, 2018. The vice president of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and vice president of the NORCECA Confederation, Cuban Mireya Luis, was acclaimed twice during the opening of the Norceca U-18 Women's Volleyball Championship in this city.

The triple Olympic champion and double world champion, was announced among the special guests of the tournament at the Jorge Galeano Gymnasium, of the Olympic Village of Tegucigalpa, producing a standing ovation from the public that arrived in great quantity to witness the opening match between Honduras and Barbados.

Then, the president of Norceca, Cristóbal Marte, referred to the presence of Mireya Luis as "an honor to have in Honduras a world heritage for the world", which produced again an endless applause towards one of the best volleyball players the last century.

The president of the Honduran Volleyball Federation, Felix Sabio, very excited thanked the support of NORCECA and Mr. Marte, "for trusting Honduras, for trusting us".

"When we took this position we had the commitment to take Honduras to places we had not thought of. It was a dream and now we are all part of this dream. Parents, athletes, the Autonomous Sports Confederation of Honduras (CONDEPAH), the Honduran Olympic Committee and many people and institutions that, despite economic constraints, always say that they are present".

Sabio called on the private company to join the great effort of the Organizing Committee, "since Honduras needs youth to engage in sports and recreation."

For his part, the president of NORCECA said "listening to Felix, I know that his words came from the heart."

"I came full of emotion to welcome the best of women's volleyball in America, to the stars of the Olympics of 2028," said Marte, who also called on the mayor of Tegucigalpa, Engineer Nasry Asfura: "this city deserves a first level multi-sports coliseum; You (Asfura) have demonstrated with deeds not words that you can leave that heritage, you have the responsibility to bring joy to the Honduran family and youth today".