Bangkok, Thailand, July 24, 2010 – The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) in conjunction with the Asia Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and the FIVB Development Centre in Bangkok started the referee seminar on "Refreshment Course and Asian Referees" at Ramkhamhaeng University Sports Centre here on Saturday, which runs until Wednesday.

The seminar is seen as a major platform for future success of referees in the region as referees from developing countries have received great support from the FIVB and the AVC to participate in seminar course.

Mr. Somkuan Rawirat, secretary-general of Thailand Volleyball Association, presided over the opening ceremony of the five-day seminar. He extended his friendly, warmest welcome to the FIVB instructor Mr. Takashi Shimoyama from Japan. Also featuring at the opening were Mohammad Habib Abdullah from Kuwait and Songsak Chareonpong, director and instructor of the Asian Referee Seminar, and 35 referees from nine federations consisting of Hong Kong, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Africa, Vietnam and Thailand.

All attendants are satisfied with the given facilities, equipment and very good preparation of the FIVB Development Centre in Bangkok. With all necessary requirements for the theory and practical parts of the seminar, the Development Centre is a perfect venue for the course and seminar.