Tokyo, July 6, 2006 -- More than 30 training gyms in the 10 host cities of the 2006 FIVB World Championships were inspected during a hectic two-week visit to Japan by FIVB Board of Administration member Shanrit Wongprasert.
The Thai official, who is also a member of the FIVB Sports Events Council, was accompanied on his 14-day inspection tour by representatives of the World Championships organising committee and of host broadcaster TBS.
The tour began in Nagoya on June 13 and ended in Nagano on June 26, with stops at Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo and Saitama in between.
The delegates were met by civic dignitaries, including local city mayors and prefectural governors, highlighting the high level of support from the host cities.
"In general it was a very fruitful tour," said Katsumi Wakao, Executive Tournament Director.
"Mr. Shanrit has a lot of experience in these matters and was able to point out all the requirements of the FIVB very quickly. This is a very important point because it enabled us to complete the tour well within our schedule.
The preparations for the site visits by the local organisers were excellent, so we were able to check the distance and time from the training halls to the team hotels."
Mr. Wakao added that the attendance of so many civic leaders along the way was a positive sign for the World Championships, which start with the women's event on October 31 and run through to the men's final on December 3.
"They were all excited to support and organise the World Championships, and are looking forward to greeting players, officials and spectators from abroad," he said.
