USA Volleyball to host NORCECA Congress in Atlanta

by Paul Soriano USA Volleyball Manager, Public Relations & Publications

USA Volleyball and the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta will host the 2003 NORCECA Congress from Friday-Sunday, Oct. 24-26.

The bi-yearly event for the NORCECA continental volleyball confederation -- comprised of countries in North America, Central America and the Caribbean -- will feature organizational reports and presentations from many members of the delegation, led by NORCECA President Cristobal Marte Hoffiz of the Dominican Republic.

"(The Congress) brings together all of the entities that host or participate in volleyball in the confederation as a coalition," said USA Volleyball Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Howard. "We will be conducting the business of how to promote the sport in several different areas, including events, qualification, coaching, communications, media and sports medicine."

In addition to Hoffiz and Howard, the Congress attendees will include the NORCECA Board of Administration and invited delegates consisting of the President and Secretary General of the 34 National Volleyball Federations that are members of the NORCECA Confederation. Select USA Volleyball staff will also be on hand for the Congress.

"I am happy for USA Volleyball to be hosting the NORCECA Congress," Howard added. "The last year has been 'record setting' when we look at all the advances that have occurred in the NORCECA Confederation and the quality of their competitions. This congress is our opportunity to capitalize on the momentum we are seeing and show the world that this group of 34 countries can produce several teams that can compete at a world-class level.

"Our confederation president, Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, is a true team-builder, and this will be his first opportunity to have his team of federation leaders together in one room," she said. "It should be very interesting, and I think it will be fun."

NORCECA teams have been a mainstay in the world spotlight for more than 20 years. The top two NORCECA countries, the United States and Cuba, have combined to win 12 Olympic medals in both indoor and beach volleyball since 1976 (seven gold, two silver and three bronze).

Cuba's women's national volleyball team has captured the last three Olympic gold medals in indoor volleyball (1992, 1996 and 2000). The USA men's national volleyball team won three straight Olympic medals from 1984-1992 (gold medals in 1984 and 1988, a bronze medal in 1992), while the USA women's national volleyball team, Olympic silver medalists in 1984 and Olympic bronze medalists in 1992, earned a silver medal at the 2002 World Championships and is currently ranked No. 1 in the world.

Another up-and-coming NORCECA nation, the Dominican Republic, won the gold medal in women's indoor volleyball at the 2003 Pan American Games.

The United States has also been a dominant force on the beach, winning gold and silver medals in men's beach volleyball at the 1996 Olympics and another gold medal in men's beach volleyball at the 2000 Olympics. Earlier this month, Americans Misty May and Kerri Walsh won the gold medal at the women's beach volleyball World Championships while Dax Holdren and Stein Metzger earned a silver medal at the men's beach volleyball World Championships.

For more information, go to the USA Volleyball web site.