2006 Open Championships -- New Orleans

[Glenn]

For Immediate Release Dec. 2, 2005

USA Volleyball Stands by New Orleans as Site of 2006 Open Championships COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The city of New Orleans will remain as the site of the 2006 USA Open Volleyball Championships and the 2006 USA Volleyball Annual Meetings next spring, the organization proudly announced Friday. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, officials from USA Volleyball made athorough evaluation of the convention center, hotels and surrounding areas when they visited New Orleans on Nov. 16-18 and determined that it still meets the high standards required to host these annual events. "I am very pleased that we're going to be able to keep our adult championships and annual meetings in New Orleans," said Doug Beal, Chief Executive Officer of USA Volleyball. "We feel confident after the recent site visit by our staff that the conditions are, or will be, in place for the event to meet all of our needs and to provide the players, our leadership and our staff the resources necessary to host a successful event.

"I think it has been remarkable how our country has responded to this disaster that devastated the city, in both enormous financial outpouring as well as the assistance provided through all of the various relief agencies at all levels of government," he said.

"On a long-term basis the most significant support that our organization, and others like us, can provide for the recovery effort is to continue to do business with New Orleans and take advantage of the resources that have been there and that are going to be there to service our constituent populations. "We are certainly sensitive to the concerns that have been raised but we feel very comfortable that the event will not only be able to be held, but held in a wonderful atmosphere in a city that is going to make unusual efforts to be a marvelous host," Beal added. "All of the wonderful attractions of the city that made it such a popular location to begin with will be in place! Our membership, leaders and players are going to have a great experience."

The nation's second-longest-running annual volleyball event will be held in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and will be hosted by USA Volleyball, the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (NOMCVB ) and the Bayou Region. "USA Volleyball's commitment to compete in New Orleans is symbolic on many levels," said Jay Cicero, President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation. " New Orleans' greatest asset will always be its unique
culture, a one-of-a-kind flavor that no other city in our country can recreate. Rebuilding our lives, landmarks, infrastructure and economy is only the beginning. Schools are registering students, hotels are welcoming guests, restaurants are opening their doors, and our workforce is strengthening as N'Awlinians settle back home neighborhood by neighborhood. "When people - and organizations like USA Volleyball - recognize that Katrina couldn't take our spirit, our charm, our work ethic or our ability to host world-class events is when the real rebuilding begins," he added. "The vision and commitment of people like Mike Chandler, and USAV, is exactly what we are looking for in event partners." "The most patriotic thing that any organization can do is to commit to New Orleans, so what better statement could be made by a United States sport-governing body than to hold their convention and tournament in this unique American city?" said Kitty Ratcliffe, Executive Vice President of the NOMCVB. "We appreciate the commitment of USA Volleyball and look forward to welcoming them in May 2006."

More than 5,000 players and staff are expected to attend next year's Open Championships, which is traditionally broken into two separate sessions of competition. The first session runs from Saturday, May 27 through Tuesday, May 30, while the second wave of competition begins on Wednesday, May 31 and concludes on Saturday, June 3. The matches will be played on 40 portable courts within the convention center. USA Volleyball's Annual Meetings, traditionally held in the same city as the Open Championships, are scheduled to take place from Sunday, May 21 through Thursday, June 1.

"It's going to be a great event and I'm sure the people who attend will enjoy the city and have a great time," said Mike Chandler, USA Volleyball's Managing Director of Events who visited New Orleans last month. "The city hasn't lost its flair; the French Quarter is still the French Quarter. It's in good shape and it's alive! There are going to be a lot of things for people to do. It's not going to be a matter of 'What can we do?' but rather 'Can we do it all?' "A lot of things have changed," Chandler added. "It's unfortunate that such a catastrophe had to happen for a lot of good things to come out of it. Theyare going to build a bigger and better city. The best thing we can do for New Orleans is bring in our business so that people can get back to work."

The USA Open Volleyball Championships, which originated in 1928 in Chattanooga, Tenn., will take place in Louisiana for the first time. "We look forward to rolling down our sleeves and doing what we do best - putting on a first-rate event, while welcoming everyone to a city that will always be a favorite destination for any size competition, for any group of athletes, during any time of year," said Cicero. "And we'll always have a blast doing it."

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I'm so there! We should get a group to go down....