Dubai: The UAE Volleyball Association (VA) board of directors, chaired by Mohammad Jalfar, decided in its last meeting to organise the 10th Rashid International Volleyball tournament from November 15-22 in Dubai.
The board adjourned the issue of invitations for the participating teams to the coming meeting. The Rashid tournament witnessed in its last nine editions the participation of strong teams from Asia, Europe and Africa.
The board chairman extended to the meeting a report on the preparations to host the 31st Congress of the International Volleyball Federation. It will be be held in Dubai 2008.
The board approved the general structure for organising the Congress. A local company, specialising in organising conferences and exhibitions, has been assigning the task of making all arrangements for organising the Congress.
Al Ahli cleared
The board accepted the participation of Al Ahli Club in the Asian Clubs' Championships, to be held in Bahrain from June 1-8. Twelve clubs from Japan, China, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Qatar, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar and hosts Bahrain will take part.
The VA board also decided to organise an international volleyball tournament for ladies in Abu Dhabi from December 10-20 at the Al Jazira indoor sports hall.
The tournament will be held under the patronage of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs and President of Al Jazira club.
The board requested the association secretariat-general and the committees to extend all necessary support to the tournament.
The board has approved the names of 40 new referees - 28 of them ladies. Shaikha Shamsa Bint Hasher Al Maktoum features on top of that list. The new referees will begin their stints as third class officials.
