Tijuana, Mexico, June 9, 2009 - The Drawing of Lots ceremony for the 2009 FIVB Women's Junior World Championship to be held in Mexico took place on Monday at the Grand Hotel Tijuana in the presence Mr. Jose Ozuna Millan, Governor of the State of Baja California, and Mr. Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, FIVB First Executive Vice President.

The tournament is scheduled to take place in the cities of Mexicali and Tijuana from July 16-25. Italy, Japan and Egypt announced their withdrawal from the competition, which allowed the Czech Republic, Thailand and Kenya to take part in the event.

Pool A is comprised of hosts Mexico, the Netherlands, Venezuela and Thailand. Pool B features China, Germany, the Czech Republic and Chinese Taipei. Defending champions Brazil will play in Pool C with the Dominican Republic, Poland and Kenya, while Pool D is made up of the United States, Cuba, Bulgaria and Turkey.

A minute of silence was observed prior to the start of the ceremony in memory of Professor Alejandro Salinas de la Garza, president of the Mexican National Volleyball Federation who passed away last Saturday.

According to the competition format, the top two sides in each four-team pool will advance to the final phase of the competition to be held in Mexicali, the state capital of Baja California. The other eight teams will compete in Tijuana for the 9-16 positions.

Also attending the ceremony were Mr. Jorge Ramos, president of Tijuana Municipality, and Mr. Saul Castro Verdugo, president of the Organizing Committee, among others.

The Pool composition is as follows:

Pool A: Mexico, Netherlands, Venezuela and Thailand.

Pool B: China, Chinese Taipei, Czech Republic and Germany.

Pool C: Brazil, Dominican Republic, Kenya and Poland.

Pool D: Bulgaria, Cuba, Turkey and United States.