KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 22, 2005.-  Jamaica will host the most prestigious volleyball event in its history on April 13 to 18 as the 2006 World Championship Rounds begin within the NORCECA Confederation. Miss Carole Beckford, President of the Jamaica Volleyball Federation, said there is a lot of enthusiasm for this event that with no doubt will have a big impact in the volleyball of the Caribbean region.

Jamaica will play host to a four nation women’s event against the Netherlands Antilles, British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands The host country Jamaica is the highest ranked team in the group at 47 with the Netherlands Antilles next at 58. The other two teams are not ranked. Jamaica last placed second during the 2004 Caribbean Championships  in Barbados while they were knocked out at second phase of the preliminary rounds for the 2002 World Championships.

The event is scheduled for the National Arena in Kingston, a part of the Independence Park Complex where all major national events are held. The Arena has a seating capacity of 7,000 spectators and is part of a complex, which hosts swimming, track and field, soccer, basketball, volleyball and field hockey.