HAVANA, Cuba. - The Varadero tourist resort, in the central Cuban province of Matanzas, will host the ninth phase of the 2012 Beach Volleyball Circuit of the North, Central American and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA), which will increase this year the number of stages (men’s and women’s) to 18.

The decision to hold the competition in Varadero for the second consecutive year was made during the beginning of the annual meeting of NORCECA’s working commissions in the Dominican Republic.

This year, the Cuban resort will host the beach volleyball circuit stop on June 6-11 with the participation of 64 duos from Canada, United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Panama, Jamaica, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Belize, Cayman Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Cuba.

The first stage of the contest will be played in Cayman Islands (March 21-26) with the following stops taking place in Guatemala (March 28-April 1) and the Dominican Republic (April 4-9).