Stag $40,000 for beach volleyball

And with their input, they have reduced the massive $103,000 budget to host the competition.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Volleyball Federation (TTVF) president Mushtaque Mohammed told a media conference at the Carib Brewery Hospitality Suite, Champs Fleurs yesterday, the remaining amount will come from corporate Trinidad and Tobago such as Sports & Games, Water One, Gatorade, the Borough of Chaguanas and the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SCOTT).

The winning team (both men and women) will receive US$1,000 and bragging rights while the runner-up will walk away with US$800. The third place team will get US$700.

A total of 12 countries, including the United States have already confirmed their participation. But according to Mohammed, officials are targetting 16 teams in the men’s category and six in thewomen’s.

Among the 12 teams to have already booked their place are St Kitts/Nevis, who have been utilising the Saith Park facility for their preparation. Guadeloupe, Martin-ique, Jamaica and the Netherland Antilles are the other teams to contest the competition.

Newsday understands most neighbouring Caribbean countries have been visiting this country with hope of using the Chaguanas facility for practice sessions, since it is the only facility of its kind in the region.

National men’s beach volleyball champs David Thomas and Kevin Edwards will be defending their title, along with the national women champs Nancy Joseph and Andrea Davis.

The quartet is expected in on Thursday to prepare for the competition. Mohammed said the quartet has been in the California, USA on a training stint for the past six months, a deal funded by Atlantic LNG.

Trinidad and Tobago will be among four countries in the tournament who will be contesting the forthcoming Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC), along with Barbados and St Kitts and Nevis.

Mohammed pointed out four areas of benefit for Trinidad and Tobago by hosting the championship.

According to Mohammed, it will assist in the preparation of the national team ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and it will also be a major boost to the team to contest the CAC Games.

Another benefit is that it will give local players the opportunity for exposure to international scouts and will be used as a measure to see how prepared we are to stage a major continental championship next year.

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) secretary Brian Lewis urged corporate TT to assist the different sport as a means of country development.

He pointed out that in Trinidad and Tobago companies only put money towards celebrating the victories of successful sportsmen and women.

He added, there is need for firms to assist in sponsoring sporting organisations during the preparation period.