SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, September 22, 2026.- The NORCECA-FIVB International Sports Excellence Center in Santo Domingo, opened the Level I International Coaches Course on Tuesday. The course, which runs from September 22 to 26, brings together 31 participants from Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela as part of its initiatives to strengthen volleyball education and technical development.
The opening ceremony was led by Garibaldi Bautista, president of the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD), who highlighted the work of the NORCECA-FIVB International Sports Excellence Center in the Dominican Republic and its contribution to the training of coaches from different countries.
During his remarks, Bautista emphasized the Dominican Olympic Committee’s continued support for the Center’s activities and recognized the work of its director, Professor Nelson José Ramírez, for his dedication and commitment to sports development.
“At the Dominican Olympic Committee, we always follow the work of this Excellence Center. We congratulate its director, Nelson José Ramírez, because his work has been recognized worldwide. This is a very active institution and a great example of dedication,” Bautista said.
He also encouraged participants to make the most of the knowledge they will acquire during the course and apply it to the development of volleyball in their respective countries.
Wellington Valenzuela, who delivered the welcoming remarks, expressed the Dominican Volleyball Federation’s pride in hosting this international training center. He also welcomed the coaches and wished them success throughout their training.
Dr. Bernardo Mesa, Technical Director of Centro Caribe Sports, a special guest and volleyball expert, encouraged participants to take full advantage of the instruction provided by international instructor Juan Cartagena, whom he described as a highly experienced professional with extensive knowledge of the trends and demands of modern volleyball.
Cartagena highlighted the efforts of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) through its Empowerment Program, which aims to strengthen the education and development of those involved in the sport.
The instructor noted that these initiatives contribute to the growth of volleyball worldwide and praised the FIVB’s support for the NORCECA-FIVB International Sports Excellence Center, as well as the Center’s ongoing training activities.
Professor Nelson José Ramírez, director of the Center, expressed his satisfaction at welcoming the 31 coaches and emphasized that the course reflects the institution’s objective of strengthening the preparation of those who contribute to volleyball development.
“At the FIVB, NORCECA and the International Sports Excellence Center, we are very pleased to have you with us for this course. We continue to fulfill our objective of providing training to everyone who works for our sport,” Ramírez said.
The director expressed special appreciation to FIVB President Fabio Azevedo and NORCECA President Cristóbal Marte Hoffiz for their continued support of the training initiatives carried out by the Center.
The Level I International Coaches Course is being held at the Dominican Republic’s National Volleyball Training Center, which continues to serve as a venue for learning, professional development and knowledge exchange among volleyball professionals from different countries.
The course is part of the NORCECA-FIVB International Sports Excellence Center’s ongoing efforts to strengthen coaches’ education and contribute to the technical development of volleyball throughout the region.