Dive into MJ Stadium’s sand for beach volleyball tournament

Athletes from across Central America have converged on the Old Capital to participate in the annual Beach Volleyball Championships.  With the exception of Panama every other country is being represented in the games that are scheduled to commence on Friday.  Belize will be facing stiff competition from Guatemala and Costa Rica, both teams that have qualified for the 2012 Olympics in London, England.  We found out today from Marta Centeno what the overall expectations are from each of the participating teams in eleventh annual championship.

Marta Centeno, President, Central American

“This is the Central American Championship. We used to make it every year in different countries of Central America and this time it will be held in Belize City. Six of the seven countries of Central America; only Panama is missing for this time.”

Isani Cayetano

Marta Centeno

“In terms of what can be expected from the teams that are participating in this championship. Can you talk to us a little bit about that?”

Marta Centeno

“There are a few teams like Guatemala and Costa Rica; they are already qualified for the next round for the qualification tournament for the Olympics. They are here so we expect that they are going to the finals on Sunday.”

Isani Cayetano

“In terms of what you’ve seen so far being here in Belize—the set up and the venue for this activity—how does it compare in terms of it not being a beach per say with other venues across Central America that the teams have participated in before?”

Marta Centeno

“This is a very nice place. We already went there. It is in the Marion Jones stadium. I think it doesn’t matter if whether on the beach because they have the sand there. The layout is technically well done. In Central America we have done this in Guatemala—just in the center of Guatemala City and there we also do some stages for the Norceca Tour and they like it a lot because it is easy to go for people and spectators to watch the matches.”

Isani Cayetano

“How prestigious a title is it for the winning country to walk away with at the end of this competition?”

Marta Centeno

“For them it is very prestigious because they are a champion of Central America and they can be ranked better in the Norceca Tour.”

Isani Cayetano

“And in terms of let’s say a placement in the upcoming Olympic Games, where does this particular activity place them within that context?”

Marta Centeno

“This is a different competition because we have another one—it is a pre-qualification tournament—they already qualified; four teams from Central America. It was held in Nicaragua in January of this year and the second step will be in Guatemala in November for just the four qualified teams.”

Isani Cayetano

“Finally in terms of skills set and the ability to dominate the competition, what are some of the teams that we should look forward to in terms of keeping an eye on them to see what their performance will be like?”

Marta Centeno

“Most of them, they have to be playing lots of time together to know each other very good, very well and also they have been during two or three years playing the Norceca Tour and having some experience in this kind of events.”

The beach volleyball championship will be hosted at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex in Belize City on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.