A view from the top the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the venue for the FIVB VNF tournament. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has inspected the venues and facilities for the country’s hosting of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) for men and women in June at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
FIVB Event Manager Thanathorn “Tom” Suwannamai arrived on Monday and inspected the stands of the Big Dome on Tuesday, months ahead of the hosting Week 2 of the VNL women’s preliminary from June 14 to 19 and Week 2 of the men’s pool matches from June 21 to 26.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Secretary-General Don Caringal and members of the local organizing committee
The FIVB official also checked the training venues, San Juan Arena and Meralco Gym in Pasig City.
“This is perfect. This is good. This is one of the better ones,” said Thanathorn. “I heard good things about Philippine volleyball fans and I’m so excited.”
INTERNATIONAL Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Event Manager Thanathorn “Tom” Suwannamai (third from left) meets with members of the local organizing committee led by Philippine National Volleyball Federation secretary general Don Caringal (right, in black polo shirt) and venues chief and national men’s team manager Mike Verano (left) Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. PNVF PHOTO
Thanathorn aalso witnessed the contract signing between the PNVF and VNL host broadcaster Cignal TV at the Crowne Plaza in Quezon City.
He also met the Philippine beach volleyball teams, who are fresh from their Brisbane training camp for the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, in a dinner at Bonifacio Global City.
The event manager will watch Game 1 of the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference Finals between Creamline and PetroGazz on Wednesday evening at Mall of Asia Arena before he flies back to the FIVB headquarters in Lausanne on Thursday.
The ticket selling for VNL starts on April 17. Three-time VNL and Tokyo Olympics gold medalist United States banner the women’s pool that includes reigning Asian champion Japan, 11-straight SEA Games champion Thailand, China, Poland and Canada, while the men’s side will feature Tokyo Olympics gold France, Japan, Slovenia, Argentina, Italy, Germany and Netherlands.
Russia was originally part of the VNL in both genders but was sanctioned because of the Ukraine crisis.