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Monica Bodden reporting

It has been highly anticipated by many - and today the Central American Beach Volleyball Championship games got off to a sizzling start.

The tournament which is being held at the Marion Jones Stadium - has the participation of 6 Central American teams -namely… Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

Today's matches were played by all 6 teams. And were held on two courts simultaneously - Team Belize played a total of 12 matches.

Allan Sharp, President - Belize Volleyball Association
"Matches start from this morning it started at 9 am. The last match plays at 5 pm. Belize is playing at 5: 00 today. Even does how are at work you can quickly get out here to see the final match. I think each team, each Belize team plays three matches. So that's 3,6,12 matches that Belize will be playing. Tomorrow is very similar, tomorrow is the second round and them, Sunday is the final round with the championship matches in the afternoon."

Team Costa Rica - is considered one of the strongest teams in the tournament.

Monica Bodden
"Tell us a little bit about the competition and the relatives strength of the team, based on what you have seen so far."

Allan Sharp, President - Belize Volleyball Association
"Well it seems that Costa Rica female has brought their number one team and there are paired together and very experience, long time together. They definitely look like the favorite."

"The Guatemala team has taken their two top players and split them into two teams and joined them with younger players to try and developed. Remember Guatemala is the defending champion. I don't think that they will just give up to Costa Rica, an above all when Belize plays Guatemala it's always a big thing so, and we hope to do well again against them as well."

"In the males Costa Rica is here with El Salvador who is second last year, has come out bringing their A team; they brought their number one team. And so has Guatemala so we expect the competition to be very strong, but all teams here know each other very well, so i think they know how to tactically approach each other."

And all the teams agreed on one thing… they are in it to win it.

Jasmine Anderson - Team Belize
"The competition is tight. All the teams here are really good, but we are looking forward to the game. Competitions are always welcome, definitely it's going to be fun, competition is good."

Barbara Cadle - Team Belize
"It's very competitive, especially Costa Rica I can't wait to meet them."

Monica Bodden
"Now I means how long have you guys been preparing for this tournament."

Jasmine Anderson - Team Belize
"Well I mean we have been playing beach, unfortunately we have just started to play together bobsy was actually playing with someone else due to some unforeseen events she could not make it, so i was the replacement."

Barbara Cadle, Team Belize
"But that not a disadvantage to us."

Monica Bodden
"So you think that won't hamper the game or anything your game."

Barbara Cadle, Team Belize
"No it won't, because we play indoors together, so we just need to get it together now."

Natalia Alfaro- Team Costa Rica
Well the games are good, the things are very good and is so nice, we are happy to be here and play volleyball.

Monica Bodden
"Now I mean which one of the teams do you think will be the most challenging to beat?"

Natalia Alfaro- Team Costa Rica
"I think it would be Guatemala, because they are good team, and we saw the teams in other championship tour, so i think that Guatemala is the mush hard team for us."

"We have just played a game against Costa Rica and we lost but we are happy because we are learning. It's more than a year that we have been playing together, so it's a good start."

Estevan Escobar, Team Costa Rica
"Well we haven't played it, We see that the other countries are here, the countries that we usually play during the year, so it's a great competition. Belize also has two good teams. Guatemala always a strong team, Nicaragua and El Salvador - those are like the three teams, the top 4 teams is us and them. That I think is a better competition. We've been practicing, but it's just warming up, you don't bring out the guns during practice, you save that for the tournament. We kind of know each other, we are all friends but at the same time we are here to compete and win."

Everyone is invited to come on out at the Marion Jones Stadium over the weekend to see matches that should be entertaining and competetive. Matches start at 9 on Saturday and on Sunday.

Allan Sharp, President - Belize Volleyball Association
"You can see its bright and sunny - thank God and I hope we continue to be bless. The breeze is blowing so you don't feel the heat, its not that hot and we have music and we have tents for cover - if you need food.... it's a fun atmosphere but above all you are going to see beautiful people playing a beautiful game in beach volleyball. We have already seen the Costa Rica team play; we are now going to see Guatemala and Belize play. The fans need to come out and support team Belize. I think it's going to be the big difference in what's happening."

Ok, so it didn't go too well for Team Belize today. Our teams lost all their games; in fact they only won when they played each other.

Belize's Male team two, Carlos Requena & Juan Marin lost to Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador while the male team one, Arvid Arnold & Edward Broaster lost to Nicaragua.

In female competition - Belize team 2, Emma Hoare and Rebecca Rath lost to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Belize team 1. Belize female team one lost to Guatemala and El Salvador, and registered its only victory when it beat Belize team two. And so while Belize is bringing up the rear, as expected the Costa Rican teams, both male and females are at the head of the competition.

They are undefeated as are El Salvador's Female and male team ones, while Nicaragua's male team one is also undefeated. A number of those undefeated teams have not met and will play against each other tomorrow.


Newscast starts at 00:01:32 in video.