First victory

The real Cuba finally stood up to be counted on Sunday as they destroyed a surprisingly flat Australian side 3-0 for their first Pool B win of the FIVB Volleyball World Championship for Men in Fukuoka.After their four-set loss to Brazil on the opening day, Cuba slumped to a 3-0 loss to Germany on Saturday. But captain Allen Pimienta vowed that "a proper" Cuban team would take the court against the Aussies.And so it was as his team won 25-15, 25-19, 25-20 to improve their record to 1-2 after three matches.Australia, who were battling all the way in defeats to Germany and France, fell to 0-3 and face an uphill task to qualify for the second round in Hiroshima.

Great game aganist Brazil

Favourites Brazil recovered from a first-set shock to defeat Cuba 3-1 in the opening Pool B match as the defending champions turned in a 21-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-22 victory. France overcame some stubborn resistance from Greece to score a 3-1 win in their first match. The French dropped the third set before clinching a 25-22, 25-22, 22-25, 25-17 victory at Fukuoka’s Marine Messe stadium. France’s captain Stephane Antiga was pleased with the win, especially given the short amount of time the team had to prepare before the World Championship. “The first match is always very difficult,” he said. “We were very nervous and didn't have a lot of time to prepare, only two weeks. We are very happy with this victory because against Greece the past two times we lost so it's nice to get back at them and a nice start to the competition.”

Message from Jacques Rogge

The 11th edition of the World Sport for AII Congress will bring together experts from across the world to debate a major theme: «Physical activity: benefits and challenges».Organised for the first time in Havana (Cuba), from 31 October to 3 November 2006, and placed under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), this Congress will assess the progress made in implementing policies and measures for Sport for All.I should like to congratulate the Cuba National Olympic Committee for its great contribution to the organization of this Congress, which reminds us that sport is more than ever part of social development and that physical activity is essential to guarantee a healthy body and mind.It is thanks to such a congress that the Olympic and sports Movement, in close cooperation with governmental and non-governmental organizations dealing with physical activity and sport, will be able to achieve our common goal for this third millennium: to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of the human being.