CCSC aims to produce Cebuano beach volley Olympians by 2020

CEBU, Philippines - Buoyed by the support it got from the US government, the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) launches its highly ambitious, but very plausible dream of producing an Olympian in beach volleyball by 2020.

As initial help to the City government, the US Embassy through its Deputy Chief of Missions Brian L. Goldbeck donated $10,000 to CCSC.

The amount will be utilized for the grassroots development program in beach volleyball that will be crafted behind the concerted efforts of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) through its consultant Eric Licain, the CCSC led by Edward Hayco and the Cebu Volleyball Association (CEVA) under the leadership of Andrew C. Choachuy.

Although the CCSC is looking at the Olympics 2020, Licain is more practical in saying that while the hunt is on for the first two Cebuano Olympians in beach volley out of 10,000 athletes projected to join the program, the rest can use the sport to go to school and have a better future.

“Not everybody can be in the Olympics, but we hope to send children to school in high school and college and who knows, they also get a chance to go to the US,” said Licain.

On the other hand, Goldbeck said the beach volley court at Fort San Pedro in Plaza Independencia can also be a source of income and an avenue to further promote sports tourism industry in this part of the country.

“I remember back in my town, they also put up beach volleyball courts in the park. People in the community who got hooked into it that courts have been booked for the rest of the year and the years ahead. So it's also income-generating,” said Goldbeck.

The beach volley court beside Fort San Pedro will be available for use tentatively in December yet as CCSC is still waiting for the arrival of the sands from Siquijor.

When the court will be fully operational, it will also serve as a training center for the national beach volley players.— (FREEMAN)