Category: General

SANTO DOMINGO, 6 de junio de 2023.- NORCECA is saddened to learn about the loss of Guido Alberto Salvo Pelleiro, former President of the National Volleyball Federation of Uruguay.

Guido Salvo presided Uruguay Volleyball from 2016 to 2021 and was member of the South American Volleyball Confederation, from where he supported and collaborated with NORCECA in organizing numerous Pan American Cups and Multisports Events that have united both Confederations.

NORCECA and president Cristóbal Marte Hoffiz express their deepest condolences to his respected family and to the Uruguayan volleyball family.

HAVANA, Cuba, May 30, 2023.- The North, Central American and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation NORCECA is saddened to learn of the loss of Raiza O’Farril, ex member of the legendary “Morenas Del Caribe” of Cuba.

Volleyball Cuban legend, performed as setter of the Cuban team that won both Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games and several world championships, was a key piece of the famous Morenas del Caribe under the direction of mythical coach Eugenio George, who captivated the world during the 90’s.

The news was confirmed to NORCECA by Mireya Luis NORCECA Vice President and former teammate who expressed “a beautiful person has passed away, an excellent woman, excellent athlete, a Morena del Caribe; it’s painful, rest in peace my child”.

Raiza O’Farril passed away this morning at the age of 51 after a short battle against cancer and leaves to mourn two daughters to whom we send our deepest condolences.  

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 21, 2023.- The NORCECA Volleyball Confederation was saddened to learn of the death of Bill Kauffman, former member of the NORCECA Press Commission.

Bill Kauffman served as senior manager of communications at USA Volleyball from where he was appointed for many international volleyball tournaments and held the position of secretary of the NORCECA Press commission.

Kauffman died on May 20 of natural causes.

NORCECA sends our deepest condolences to his family and friends.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, May 4, 2023.- The FIVB this week hosted the second Zonal Association Presidents’ Seminar in a hybrid format with most participants connecting online while the African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) Zonal Association Presidents joined from the FIVB Headquarters where they are currently taking part in a three-day mentoring program.

The second seminar follows the first gathering in early March, with the sessions aimed at discussing opportunities to further the growth of volleyball across all 222 National Federations (NFs). The Zonal Association Presidents were provided with a report summarizing the activities of all the Zones in  2022, and also learned more on how to best support the NFs within their respective Zones to develop volleyball all over the world.

In addition, the Zonal Association Presidents had an opportunity to ask various questions including those on Volleyball Empowerment, the competitions calendar, good governance, and safeguarding. The seminar was also attended by the Presidents of the Continental Confederations and members of the FIVB Development and Volleyball Empowerment Commissions.

Opening the meeting, FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça F° said:

“We are already working very hard on our vision to develop volleyball all over the world by empowering the National Federations, national teams and players to realize their full potential.

“Again, let me emphasize that as Zonal Association Presidents, you are very important members of the Volleyball Family. We rely on you to provide valuable support to the National Federations in your respective Zones both by supervising and monitoring existing projects and equally helping the NFs to identify their needs, develop strong projects and subsequently apply for the support.

“You are also key in facilitating communication and knowledge transfer, as well as providing more opportunities for teams to play at the Zonal level.  I strongly believe that by working together as a team, we can achieve great results for our sport all over the world!”

The FIVB President shared some examples of the Volleyball Empowerment and development projects that have already achieved great results from all five Continental Confederations, including those in Colombia, Malawi, Canada, France and New Zealand. 

The Zonal Association Presidents are planning to meet again after the FIVB Board of Administration meeting.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, March 8, 2023.- In commemoration of Women’s International Day the NORCECA Referee Commission held a webinar on Tuesday for international female referees with the theme of “Sharing Our Stories” to provide helpful information to support their growth and development.

Julie Voeck of the United States, member of the NORCECA Referee Commission, was in charge of moderating an open conversation in which NORCECA female referees had the opportunity to speak about their personal experiences refereeing at an international level.

Guy Bradbury, president of the NORCECA Referee Commission highlighted that the Referee Commission has been working for the equality within our sport and having a better understanding of female referees.

Ariel Sainz, NORCECA First Vice President also took part of the session, alongside other members of the NORCECA Referee Commission.

Beach Volleyball referees Claudia Guerrerro of Honduras and Suzanne Lowry of the United States, and Volleyball referees Cinthya Hernández of Costa Rica and Mary Carmen Durán of Mexico shared their stories of how they decided to become referees and the different challenges they have faced along their path.

One of the discussions during the webinar was how some of them shifted from being an athlete to refereeing, the opportunity they have been provided of meeting fellow referees which have contributed to their career and a better understanding of the rules of the game.  

An important conversation came to the attention of the participants, was that in many events they are the only female referee officiating during an event, which has been challenging as on occasions they haven’t felt the same camaraderie when having the companion of another female referee.

The speakers agreed the importance of whistling as many national events as possible, providing them with a better preparation to approach difficult situations, dealing with coaches and players who are constantly questioning their decisions, which in the end helps them to improve with every match and for officiating at an international level.

Some of the challenging situations they have faced are balancing their personal careers and overcoming doubting themselves, but NORCECA has provided the necessary support.

The webinar concluded with the message to continue working hard and setting career goals, to become trustworthy referees and also taking on a teaching role for developing more female referees.

LAUSANE, Switzerland, February 10, 2023.- Volleyball and Beach Volleyball will be present at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 with stylish new visual identities. The organizers revealed the 47 different sports pictograms, each of which is meant as “a badge of honor”, representing not only a sporting discipline but also a family, a sense of pride, a set of values and a community. It is a symbol of each wearer belonging to a chosen sporting family, and a sign of affinity with a great and beautiful sporting community.”

Each pictogram is composed of three graphical elements: an axis of symmetry, a depiction of the ground and a representation of the sport that it illustrates.

In beach volleyball, 24 teams per gender, or a total of 48 pairs, will compete at Paris 2024. The competition format for the beach volleyball tournaments at Paris 2024 will remain the same as the one applied at Tokyo 2020. In each gender, the 24 teams will be split into six pools of four, with the top two in each pool plus two best ranked third-placed teams directly advancing to the round of 16. The four lowest ranked third-placed duos will have to go through an additional “lucky losers” round to reduce the teams in contention to 16.  Single-elimination round of 16 matches, quarterfinals and semifinals will follow before the two medal matches determine the spots on the podium.

Paris 2024’s beach volleyball events will take place between 27 July and 10 August at a spectacular 12,000-capacity temporary stadium to be built at the foot of the iconic Eiffel Tower.

The men’s team of Anders Mol and Christian Sorum of Norway and the women’s team of April Ross and Alix Klineman of the United States are the reigning beach volleyball Olympic champions from Tokyo 2020.

Meanwhile, the volleyball tournaments, will be played under a new format. The pool phase will consist of three pools of four teams rather than two pools of six teams in each gender. The top two teams in each pool and the two best third-placed teams will progress to the final phase of the tournament, which will remain the same as at Tokyo 2020, with quarterfinals, semifinals and then the bronze and gold medal matches.

The volleyball competition at Paris 2024 will be held between 27 July and 11 August. The matches will be played at the 12,000-capacity South Paris Arena #1, part of the Paris Expo, built in 1923 to host the Paris Trade Fair.

As representatives of the host country, the French men’s national team will compete at Paris 2024 in an attempt to defend the Olympic title they earnt at Tokyo 2020. To be able to defend the gold they earned in Japan, the current women’s Olympic champions, the USA, will have to progress through the Olympic qualification process first.

The sports pictograms were first introduced at the Olympic Games Tokyo 1964, which corresponds to the first time volleyball featured in the Games as an Olympic sport. 

Dear NORCECA National Federation Presidents, Members of NORCECA Excecutive Committee & Board of Administration, Members of NORCECA Commission and Technical Staff.

At the end of a very fruitful year 2022, as President of NORCECA we are pleased to render our 2022 NORCECA Activities Report covering all the events held by NORCECA during the year.

The extraordinary results and participation of our National Federations made more attractive our events during the year, created the necessary conditions for our continental sponsor to support NORCECA and at the same time taking advantage to promote their products and activities through a very dynamic marketing strategies.

In summary, 2022 has been definitively the recovery year for NORCECA going back to normal after two painful years that impacted our events and activities due to the Global Pandemic of the COVID19.

2022, set forward the necessary conditions for fruitful 2023 as a Pre-Olympic year for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Wishing you all, your families and our worldwide volleyball community a Merry Christmas and a Fruitful and happy New Year 2023, our best gift, so please enjoy our 2022 NORCECA Activities Report.

Kind Regards

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, November 14, 2022.- The NORCECA Volleyball Confederation is in mourning for the loss of one of the best sports journalists of the Dominican Republic and a member of our family.

Our dearest Roosevelt, Dominican journalist legend, was inducted to the Dominican Sports Hall of Fame in 2019, with more than 50 years of professional career and who began his history in sports as a basketball athlete where he excelled in the starting team of the Central American and Caribbean Games in 1966.  

Comarazamy stood out as baseball journalist and narrator, broadcasting pioneer of Dominican basketball and volleyball. He was a Doctor of Law graduated with “Cum Laude” honors from the Santo Domingo University and professor of journalism at the Central East University in Dominican Republic.

He was the current FIVB Press Officer for the North, Central American and Caribbean region NORCECA since 2002, where he was appointed as press director for multiple continental and Pan American championships, standing out his appointment as volleyball Press Supervisor for the Olympic Games of London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016, as well as the World Championships of Japan 2010 and Italy 2014.

Comarazamy, respected in volleyball worldwide, leaves us at the age of 74.