Top marks for Stag Spikedown v-ball

Volleyball has received a glowing report card from a top Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee official who praised the sports’s administrators for earning the commitment and support of leading sponsors. Catherine Forde, vice-president of the TTOC said that the vision of Volleyball Federation president Mushtaque Mohammed has ensured that the sport is under no threat from the current wave of non-traditional sports which includes video and computer games. She was speaking yesterday at the launch of the Stag Spikedown Volleyball Tournament at the Hospitality Suite of Carib Brewery Limited, Champs Fleurs.

In attendance also were Arlene Francis, Carib’s Sponsorship and Events Officer; Ziska Maharaj, Stag Brand Officer; Paul Newallo, Assistant Director, Physical Education and Sport and a former outstanding  national swimmer; and Daymian Stewart of the Volleyball Federation. Also present was Colin Murray, Public Relations Manager who is currently embroiled in a stormy labour dispute with striking Carib Brewery Limited workers who are camped outside the company’s plant. Forde recently returned from a symposium in Barcelona, Spain at which leading Olympic Committee officials discussed the challenges that traditional sports face from popular electronic games. “But I have a good feeling. I am positive about success as volleyball has been able to capture the attention and support of sponsors who will ensure the development and growth of the sport,” Forde said yesterday.
She said the Barcelona dialogue centred around how sustainable were traditional sports and its ability to attract and keep the attention of the young generation.

“Volleyball doesn’t feel threatened and it is not on the verge of death. Some sports are dying because there is no growth and development and when it’s not working you can’t get any sponsorship,” Forde said. She said the sport has met three major challenges — a vibrant national administration, it encourages participation at all levels; and is geared for the future. Volleyball Federation head Mohammed stated that in the past two years Stag have contributed $150,000 in the Stag Spikedown Tournament and declared that they are the sport’s first platinum sponsor. Others jumping on the bandwagon are Liat; Blue Waters; Sports and Games Limited; TIDCO; Vibe CT 105FM; Trinidad Guardian; and Gayelle Television. Mohammed said that Government is currently studying a proposal to establish a permanent beach volleyball facility at Chaguanas, adjacent to the Central Regional Sports Complex at Saith Park.

His TTVF colleague Stewart announced that the tournament will get underway on July 11 at Vessigny Beach at La Brea with one round of the Trinidad preliminaries. For the first time Tobago is being included and on August 1 teams from the sister isle will bid at Pigeon Point for two places in the finals. Action will resume on August 15 at Mayaro when the Trinidad preliminaries continue to find eight teams for the final spikedown on August 29 when $15,000 in cash, Liat airplane tickets and Stag hampers will be at stake. Stewart said the top four teams in the final will participate in an international contest involving four other regional countries on the weekend of September 24 to 26 at Maracas when a first prize of US $3,000 will be up for grabs. He said that it is especially significant that the TT Spikedown finals will be staged on the Independence Day weekend with the International Spikedown around the Republic Day holiday.

For the local competition, Stewart said he expects entries from 32 teams (both male and female) in the Open Category and a good response also in the Novice Category, for mixed four-a-side combinations with a maximum of two male players. Newallo, representing the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs reiterated yesterday their commitment to the sport and vouched for its upwards growth pattern. “We have been there from the beginning and are confident that it can be a launching pad for the future,” said Newallo. And Stag Brand Officer Maharaj said that her company feels there is room for growth in the sport and has taken up the challenge to make Trinidad and Tobago the number one Caribbean beach volleyball location. Maharaj said Stag Lager Beer remains committed to the continued development of beach volleyball and welcomed the inclusion of Tobago as a venue as well as the increased prize package for the outstanding participants.