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. |