Korfball in the World Games

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Cali korfball community developing

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The Cali (COL) korfball community is gradually growing and developing. While on an inspection visit for The World Games, which are due to be held in Cali (COL) this Summer, IKF President Fransoo met with local korfball developer Mr Pedro Sanchez, and attended a training session of some of the Cali players.

Currently, the total community is still small, and consists of about 35 players, mostly students of various universities in Cali. The main limitations are the availability of a space to practice, and the lack of korfball knowledge. However, during the visit, the IKF signed an agreement with the Escuela Nacional de Deporte and the Sports Administration of the City of Cali to work together to develop korfball, as a legacy to The World Games korfball presence. As part of the agreement, the city will make available a permanent outdoor space for training and playing. The space, in one of the sports parks at a central location in the city, will allow thousands of Calenos to watch and experience korfball. Further, the IKF will work with the END to educate korfball coaches, such that korfball could be included in the elective course program of END, and the coaches could work with Cali’s 22 communities to teach korfball to kids across the city.

Mundialista Coliseum construction on track, but schedule remains tight

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On a visit to Cali (COL), host city for the upcoming edition of The World Games, IKF President Fransoo was fully briefed by the Cali Local Organizing Committee CLOC. The main purpose of the visit was to obtain an update of the status of preparations for the korfball tournament, which is to be held from July 31 until August 4 at the Mundialista Coliseum. The Mundialista is a brand-new venue that is currently under construction. The start of the construction has been delayed several times over the past year, but started on February 1, 2013. The construction is still on schedule to be completed by June 15, 2013.

As is common in Colombia, the coliseum consists only of specatator stand, a court, and a roof on poles. To take advantage of natural cooling by wind, none of the facilities in Cali have walls, and neither does the Mundialista. The Mundialista is located on the premises of the Instituto Universitaria Escuala Nacional de Deporte. The END is the only dedicated sports university in Colombia and is well-equipped with full support facilities, including a gym, physiotherapy facilities and staff, and sports medical facilities and staff. As korfball will be the only sport played at the END during the World Games, all facilities will be available prior and during the tournament for the korfball athletes and their staff.

The Mundialista will be equipped with a floor that is well-known to many korfball athletes and fans: SportCourt. SportCourt was also the floor on which the final of the IKF World Championship 2003 was played in Rotterdam.

Construction of World Games korfbal venue has started

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In Cali, Colombia, the construction of the Mundialista Coliseum has finally started. The Mundialista Coliseum will be the venue for the korfball competition during The World Games. The start of the construction was delayed subsequent to planning and administrative problems, but the Cali Local Organizing Committee for the World Games is confident that the venue will be ready on time for the korfball competition, which will start on July 31. The Coliseum is located on the grounds of the national sports university END in Cali, which is also the place where the only korfball team of Colombia is based.

The IKF, with Mr Frank Buvens responsible as World Games Technical Delegate for Korfball, will continue to closely monitor the progress of the venue construction.