Kingston, Jamaica, March 22, 2005 - The Jamaican Volleyball Federation is preparing itself to host most prestigious Volleyball event in its history when the 2006 Women’s World Championship first round tournament (Norceca Pool A) will be held on Jamaican soil from April 13-18.

President of the Jamaica Volleyball Federation Miss Carole Beckford said there is a lot of enthusiasm building for the event, especially when considering that there is no doubt that the event will have a big impact on Volleyball in the Caribbean region.

Jamaica will play host to the four nation event, which also includes the Netherlands Antilles, British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands and will be held in the National Arena in Kingston, a part of the Independence Park Complex where all major national events are held. The Arena has a seating capacity of 7,000 spectators and is part of a complex, which hosts swimming, track and field, soccer, basketball, Volleyball and field hockey.

The host country is the highest ranked team in the group at 47 with the Netherlands Antilles next at 58. The other two teams - British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands - are not officially ranked by the FIVB.

Jamaica last placed second during the 2004 Caribbean Championships in Barbados while they were knocked out during the second phase of the preliminary rounds for the 2002 World Championships.