JaVA gets new courts, equipment

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

The Jamaica Volley-ball Association (JaVA) received a major boost on Monday when president of the North Central America and Caribbean Association (NORCECA), Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, handed the local organisation a new volleyball court and equipment worth over US$40,000 (approx J$340,000).

The handover ceremony was held at the National Stadium, where the new all-weather volleyball court is located.

The land on which the court is situated was donated by the Government through Independence Park Limited and the Social Development Foundation.

Minister of Sports Olivia 'Babsy' Grange said she was delighted with the new facility and is committed to helping with further improvements of the court.

Partnership

"We are very happy about it," said Grange. "A year ago, we met with the NORCECA president and he said he would make the equipment available if we provided the land and the funding to install it and we said yes, we would partner and through the SDF, we provided the funds," she said.

Grange added: "We provided the land space and so now we have a facility where the Jamaica Volleyball Association can do their training, and down the line, we hope to put some light in and we also hope to put some seats in place."

"I am happy to tears," said Major Warrenton Dixon, president of the JaVA. "I am quite proud about this because we have achieved a lot by doing this, but what do we do after this is what counts," he said.

Dixon added: "We want to train and train and then bring it to the international community because Jamaica has produced great athletes in different sports and so why should we be minnows in the Caribbean, let alone in the world and so that is where we are going with this."

Committed

Hoffiz said NORCECA was committed to helping the development of the sport in Jamaica.

"This facility for us is one more contribution that NORCECA is providing to its national federations," Hoffiz said. "This is part of the tools in the environment that we must provide at our level for the development plans that we have in place since 2009.

"I hope that volleyball will improve in Jamaica, especially for the youths because now they will not be afraid to play because this surface is specially made for them not to get hurt, and so our youth will be more attracted to the sport and they will be more happy to play," Hoffiz added.