Junior Olympic National Volleyball Championships
PRESS RELEASE
Junior Olympic National Volleyball Championships Returns to Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City - The State of Utah has hosted the 2001, 2002, and 2005 USA Junior Olympic Girls' Volleyball National Championships and now has been selected by USA Volleyball to host the 2008 USA Junior Olympic Boys' Volleyball National Championships at the South Towne Exposition Center in Sandy City, Utah, July 2-9, 2008. The event will showcase approximately 450 of the best junior volleyball players from every state in the nation competing daily.
"We are excited about bringing another Junior Olympic Volleyball National Championship to Utah," said Mike Chandler, USA Volleyball's Managing Director of Events. "The Girls' Volleyball National Championship events previously hosted were a tremendous success due to the great support received from the local organizing committee and the community. We are excited to be returning to Utah."
This will be the fourth time in eight years Utah has hosted a premier Junior Olympic National Championship event. This event will showcase terrific athletic competition as well as deliver a tremendous economic impact. The 2008 event is expected to generate approximately $20-$25 million to the local economy, according to the State of Utah economic impact numbers.
"The State of Utah is excited to once again host a Junior Olympic Volleyball Championship," said Utah Governor, Jon M. Huntsman Jr. "This is another example of our continued efforts to expand upon Utah's Olympic legacy by capitalizing on sport as a key economic development and tourism tool as we continue to build and grow our sport brand."
"Sandy City is thrilled to be hosting another major USA Volleyball event and we look forward to hosting the athletes and their families in our community," said Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan.
"It's great to have USA Volleyball returning to Utah with events of this magnitude and economic impact and we look forward to partnering with USA Volleyball on these types of events well into the future," said Greg Curtis, Utah House Speaker and a Sandy City resident.
"Sports have become a key economic driver for our state," said Jeff Robbins, president & CEO of the Utah Sports Commission. "Having this major national youth volleyball event come to Utah will bring significant economic impact and image building opportunities."
Volleyball has become a major thrust of the Sports Commission's goal of positioning Utah's sports brand, "The State of Sport," and targeted volleyball in working with the Intermountain Volleyball Association several years ago in hopes of attracting national and international competition to Utah.
"IVA is thrilled to be hosting another USAV Championship event in Utah," said Kim Norman, Executive Director of Intermountain Volleyball Association.
