Thirteen (13) teams participated in the official opening ceremony of the 2010 LIME National Volleyball League, held at the Benjamin Park hardcourt in Portsmouth on Sunday 28th February.

Addresses came from the President of the Dominica Amateur Volleyball Association; Parliamentary Representative of the Portsmouth constituency and Minister for Tourism and Legal Affairs, Honourable Ian Douglas; Sports Coordinator in the Ministry of Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr. Trevor Shillingford; and Marketing Manager of the League sponsor, LIME Ms. Lorraine Mitchel.

Mr. Douglas applauded the efforts of the organizers of the League for their spirit of volunteerism, and the players for taking advantage of the opportunity provided for their personal development. He also recognized the valuable contribution of LIME to the national development effort through the company’s sponsorship of numerous activities in sports, Culture among others.

Mr. Shillingford congratulated the DAVA for its many initiatives and stated that the Ministry of Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports was very pleased with the level of cooperation between the Sports Division and the Association, citing the attachment of a Japanese volunteer coach to the Sports Division for the promotion of the sport in the schools. He also announced that the Ministry and the Association will be collaborating in conducting a development course for teachers of primary and secondary schools during the Easter holidays, with assistance from the International Volleyball Federation, FIVB.

Mr. Shillingford indicated that the Sports Division intends to enter a team of promising volleyball players from among the schools which participated in the Schools competition, in the National League, in preparation for the 2010 Windward Islands Interschools Tournament; and he urged the players to train regularly in order to improve their performance.

Ms. Mitchel referred to the long relationship between LIME/Cable & Wireless and the Volleyball Association, spanning over two decades, and outlined the long history of the company’s commitment to the development of the youth through sports. She assured the Association of the Company’s continued support in coming years.

Following the recitation of the Players and Officials pledge, the invited guests were introduced to the teams, which included five women’s and eight men’s teams. The ceremony culminated with a BALLORAMA in which all the teams participated.

In the Women’s Division, Jays Ltd. ACERS defeated Signman Celtics in the finals (25 – 15) to emerge Champions; while in the Men’s Division LIME Wolf Pack of Pointe Michel emerged Champions by beating Morning bird Club Olympia 25 to 16.