2017 Girls’ U18 Worlds to leave lasting legacy in Santa Fe

Lausanne, Switzerland, January 3, 2017 – For the first time in history Argentina is gearing up to host a female volleyball World Championship, when the country welcomes the 2017 FIVB Girls’ U18 World Championship, 18-28 August – confirming its commitment to developing women’s volleyball on the back of Argentina’s women’s debut Olympic appearance in Rio 2016, while building a legacy to last.The competition is the latest in a string of grassroots FIVB competitions hosted in the South American country, after the 2011 (in Almirante Brown and Bahia Blanca) and the 2015 (in Chaco and Corrientes) Boys’ U19 events.For the first time since the sport was introduced to the Olympic Programme in Tokyo 1964, Argentina qualified a women’s team to the ultimate sporting competition last year. The team scored their first ever Olympic win in five sets over Cameroon to finish joint ninth overall amongst 12 entrants.Argentina’s women’s national team celebrate a historic Olympic win over Cameroon at the Rio 2016 Games.Santa Fe Province is the natural place to host such a historically important event, according to Santa Fe Volleyball Federation president Fabian Bochatay.”Santa Fe is one of the provinces with the stronger girls’ youth competitions of the country and that generates a very important number of strong players,” he said.”Santa Fe became the latest U13, U15 and U17 national champions and our clubs also claimed titles at the U13 and U17 Argentine Cups. That is not a small matter, it is hard work, engagement, …

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