Caribbean Beach Volleyball Championships in Carolina to feature 400-plus young athletes

Over four days of competition through Sunday, more than 400 athletes -- organized into more than 200 teams -- will play some 500 matches across eight competition courts in the Caribbean Beach Volleyball Championships in Carolina.

By THE STAR STAFF

Many of the athletes who will go on to represent their countries in continental championships, world championships and even the Olympic Games in the coming years will experience their first major international stage in Puerto Rico starting today as the Carolina Beach Park (Balneario de Carolina) hosts the fourth edition of the Caribbean Beach Volleyball Championships, the sport’s top youth tournament in the region.

Over four days of competition through Sunday, more than 400 athletes -- organized into more than 200 teams -- will play some 500 matches across eight competition courts. The event will bring together delegations from Puerto Rico, the United States, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Virgin Islands and other nations that continue to view this championship as a premier showcase for developing future generations of players.

The competition will feature U-12, U-14, U-16 and U-18 categories -- the age groups where the talent that eventually makes up national teams begins to take shape.

“This event continues to transform youth beach volleyball in Puerto Rico,” said José Bengoa, a partner and producer of the tournament. “Each year, we see significant growth in both local and international participation. This is also reflected in the development of clubs and camps, which are reaching full capacity as they prepare athletes to compete in a tournament that has firmly established itself as the most important of its kind in the Caribbean.”

Since its inception, the Caribbean Beach Volleyball Championships has seen sustained growth in both the number of teams and participating countries, sparking keen interest among sports programs in North, Central and South America -- regions where beach volleyball maintains a high level of competition. This edition will also feature prominent athletes -- including defending champions and members of national youth squads -- who rank among the region’s top beach volleyball prospects.

Matches begin at 8 a.m. Admission is free.

Tournament co-producer Fernando Vega highlighted the current development of youth beach volleyball in Puerto Rico.

“We are seeing an extraordinary generation of athletes, particularly in the 12- and 14-year-old categories,” he said. “Many of them will be the ones who represent Puerto Rico in international competitions over the coming decade. This tournament allows them to test their skills against some of the continent’s best youth players from an early age.”

The event is expected to draw between 8,000 and 10,000 visitors -- including athletes, coaches and family members -- generating some 500 hotel room nights and an economic impact of nearly $2 million, thereby benefiting the San Juan metropolitan area’s hospitality, dining and retail sectors.

Luis Fuster, who oversees sports tourism in Puerto Rico, said the tournament’s growth confirms the island’s potential to attract large-scale international sporting events.

“Our goal is to continue positioning Puerto Rico as a premier sports tourism destination in the Caribbean,” he said. “Every visiting delegation boosts our economy while giving our athletes the chance to compete at the highest level without leaving the country.”