Bangkok, Thailand, July 19, 2009 -- The FIVB Coaches Course Level 1, held by FIVB Development Center in Thailand, kicked off at 9am on July 18 at Ramkhamhaeng University Sports Center in Bangkok, with Mr Somkuan Rawiwat, secretary-general of the Thailand Volleyball Association, presiding over the Opening Ceremony.

The 12-day course will be jointly conducted by Mr Kurt Radde, Course Director from Germany and Mr Nai Chi Chang, Course Instructor from Chinese Taipei. A total of 37 coaches from 11 federations including Australia, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand joined the course.

A number of participants are beyond the regulation but FIVB Technical Department has to approve it because the application forms received at the beginning are 57 persons. FIVB Technical Department and Development Center in Thailand asked all the federations to reduce the number of participants in order that they can provide enough and best facilities and equipment to meet the participants' demands.

Course Director Mr Kurt Radde has been satisfied with a very good preparation of Development Center in Thailand and strongly requested all the 37 coaches to work hard for the next 12 days in order to obtain all the knowledge from this course to develop and promote volleyball in their countries upon their returns.