PRESS RELEASE: July08, 2011

THREE DAYS TO GO UNTIL KETTERING’S ‘ONE IN A MILLION’ STAR OPENS INTERNATIONAL SPORTING TOURNAMENT

Kettering is preparing for the sporting event of the year as top sitting volleyball players from around the world arrive in town for the European Committee Volleyball for Disabled (ECVD) Men’s Continental Cup, kicking off at The National Volleyball Centreon Monday, 11 July.

Kettering born classical star and finalist of hit television show Britain’s Got Talent, Faryl Smith will open the tournament on Monday with a live vocal performance of ‘Ave Maria’ at 1pm before Great Britain take on Brazil at 2pm.

The Men’s Continental Cup is one of four international events organised by the European Committee Volleyball for Disabled (ECVD) in 2011, and the only one to be held in England.11 international teams will compete at the six-day tournament.

The tournament is one of the last major international Sitting Volleyball tournaments ahead of the London Paralympic Games in 2012. The confirmed teams to compete at the event are:Bosnia, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan,Egypt, China, Russia and USA.

Robert Richardson, Captain of the GB Men’s sitting volleyball team said:

“We have been training extremely hard for this tournament and I am confident we can give the competition a good run for their money. This is a great opportunity for the team to demonstrate the progress we have made and give the people of Kettering a taste of what they can expect from the Paralympic Games next year.”

Faryl Smith wowed audiences across the country in 2008 with her performance of ‘Ave Maria’ on ITV’s show. Since then, she has gone on to become 2009’s Classical Performer of the Year and Classic Brit nominee.

Now 15 years old, Faryl has performed at numerous high profile events including 2009 and 2010’s FA Cup Final and England's Six Nations match against France at Twickenham in 2009 but her recent appointment to open the ECVD Continental Cup is dear to her heart; “To see such talented international athletes coming to compete in Kettering is really exciting and I am proud to be a part of an event of this calibre in my home town. This is a great opportunity for the people of Kettering to experience sport of such a standard and what better time to be involved than the lead up to 2012.”

~ends~

Words: 409

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Sitting Volleyball is another version of Volleyball that has been adapted to allow anyone to participate, including those with a disability, and the men’s competition has been part of the Paralympic Games since 1980 and the women’s since 2004.

In Sitting Volleyball, the international rules for Standing Volleyball apply in principle, with amendments allowing for a sport for disabled players: during play, a player must touch the court with some part of their body between the buttocks and the shoulders, and you are able to block the serve. Sitting Volleyball is played on a smaller court (meaning quicker points and faster, more exciting play) with a lower net to account for the players’ seated positions.

Volleyball England is the branded image for the English Volleyball Association (EVA). Volleyball England is the recognised National Governing Body for Volleyball in all its forms, including Volleyball, Beach Volleyball and Sitting Volleyball in England. Volleyball Englandhas a service level agreement with the British Volleyball Federation (BVF) to manage the GB Sitting Volleyball Performance Programme.

For more information on getting involved with Sitting Volleyball, regional centres and much more, please visit

PRESS ENQUIRIES:

Heather Richardson

Promote PR

01628 507 665