THE preparation of Jamaica’s Under-19 beach volleyball boys’ and girls’ teams hit a major snag when three of the four players were denied their application for a Transit (C3) US visas.

With limited funding support, the Jamaica Volleyball Association (JaVA) was hoping to be able to book the flights through the significantly cheaper US route. “Travelling through the US would have cost approximately US$2,500 per player, but we will now have to try to source money to pay approximately US$4,000 per player, at best, to take another route,” stated Major Warrenton Dixon, president of JaVA.

“We may also have to apply for two to three more visas and hope that time and decisions work in our favour.”

Among other arguments, the denial of the US visas came after the agent at the Embassy reportedly expressed doubt that a beach volleyball team is made up of only two players, as opposed to six players. The efforts of the players to convince her otherwise proved futile, even after using the registered team line-up for the championship that was prepared by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).

The National Under-19 Beach Volleyball teams comprise Rojey Hutchinson and Shavar Bryan (boys), and Tionna Graham and Lisanne Roofe (girls).

The players are hoping to be Jamaica’s first participants in a FIVB World-level Championship, where the 32 top teams from the five FIVB Confederations will compete for championship honours from July 11-14, 2013 in Portugal. Only Roofe previously had a US visa.