Volleyball for peace: Stars serve up clinics

ARMED with the popularity it has enjoyed in recent years, volleyball can serve as a tool for peace and development in the countrysides.

Top officials of the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. has embarked on a social responsibility program that calls for the country’s volleyball standouts to hold clinics, particularly in strife-prone areas in Mindanao.

Volleyball federation president Joey Romasanta said the project is the association’s contribution for peace and national development.

“History says that sports is a unifying factor: no politics, no religion,” said Romasanta, also the first vice president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

“If only the other sports will follow suit and do the same, it will help the country in a big way.”

Romasanta said the program has the blessings of the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations, as well as the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).

Federation managing director Chippy Espiritu said the clinics will be held in Cotabato, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Palawan, among others.

“We’d like to use sports as an instrument for peace,” said Espiritu. “We will bring players and coaches to these areas. In return, we will bring the kids to watch the games in Manila.”

The clinics will be scheduled in coordination with the Philippine Marines, whose top officers met recently with LVPI officials.