Sports
What is needed is a thermoelectric plant.
Amidst power outages, an energy crisis, and widespread shortages, Cuban sports authorities have announced as a “serious goal” the construction of a beach volleyball stadium in Varadero, one of the country’s main tourist destinations. The information was released by the official newspaper Girón and confirmed during the first stop of the Beach Volleyball Circuit of […]
Amidst power outages, an energy crisis, and widespread shortages, Cuban sports authorities have announced as a “serious goal” the construction of a beach volleyball stadium in Varadero, one of the country’s main tourist destinations.
The information was released by the official newspaper Girón and confirmed during the first stop of the Beach Volleyball Circuit of the North, Central America, and Caribbean Confederation (Norceca), which is taking place in Varadero.
The three-time Olympic champion Mireya Luis, currently the vice president of the Cuban Volleyball Federation and the general director of the event, stated that the project has the support of the local government, the Ministry of Tourism, and other entities connected to the sport.
“It is a serious goal. We have planned the project with all the necessary requirements,” stated the former player, referring to the intention to build a permanent facility to replace the current temporary structures used each year during the tournament.
The Barceló Solymar Arenas Blancas Hotel has been a regular venue for the event, but its temporary stands only allow for the attendance of a few dozen spectators.
According to Mireya Luis, a stadium with increased capacity would benefit not only the event itself but also the training of the athletes and the prestige of the regional competition.
Mireya Luis herself celebrated the current performance of the Cuban pairs, with one of them ranked among the top ten in the world.
However, she acknowledged that beach volleyball needs stable conditions to grow: “We never stop dreaming about the growth of the tournament,” expressed the former leader of the Morenas del Caribe, Olympic champions in Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, and Sydney 2000.
According to the Norceca circuit schedule, Varadero will not only host the inaugural stop of 2025, but it will also be the venue for the final phase in October.
Although the event promotes Cuba internationally as a sports and tourist destination, the construction of a new stadium during times of scarcity opens a new front for debate regarding government priorities and the use of public resources.
The decision contrasts with the serious situation of the national electrical system, affected by recurrent failures in thermal power plants, lack of maintenance, and a shortfall of investments in critical infrastructure.
On social media, numerous users have questioned the initiative, claiming that government funds and attention should be directed towards resolving power outages, improving transportation, supplying hospitals, or ensuring food and medicine, instead of building a facility for an annual event.
Odalis Altamirano expressed, “What we need is a thermoelectric plant to provide service to the province of Matanzas, which does experience power outages. But of course, Varadero doesn’t feel it, only during the few moments of energy collapse. They keep wasting money and don’t think about the average Cuban who can’t even afford the luxury of going to Varadero.”
Greisy Rodríguez Delgado quipped: “Odalis Altamirano, with what they raise in that stadium, will invest in the SEN, you’ll see. That has yielded a lot of results; just look at how stocked the sales points and service centers are.”
The profound decline in housing construction in Cuba is an unmistakable sign of the economic and social collapse facing the country: in 2024, fewer houses were built than in the worst years of the Special Period, underscoring the sustained failure of the State to address one of the most basic needs of the population.
The data was revealed by Cuban economist Pedro Monreal in an analysis published on the social network X, based on the official report titled “Construction in Cuba. Selected Indicators. January-December 2024. May 2025 Edition,” issued by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI).
According to official figures, investments in business services, real estate activities, and rental services reached 24.907 billion Cuban pesos (CUP) in 2024, making it the primary destination for capital expenditure in the country.
This is in addition to 11,936.5 million CUP allocated to hotels and restaurants, bringing the total investment in activities closely related to tourism to over 36.8 billion pesos.
These figures intensify the debate about the persistent priority that the Cuban regime gives to tourism, despite the prolonged stagnation of the sector and the severe shortages that the population faces in fundamental areas such as public health and food production.
In this same regard, in 2024, official data on investment in Cuba during the first half of that year reignited the debate about the allocation of resources on the island, particularly the Cuban regime’s insistence on investing in the tourism sector at the expense of fundamental sectors such as health and social assistance.
According to the ONEI report, from January to June 2024, the regime allocated nearly 40% of its investments to activities related to tourism, whereas investment in Health and Social Assistance is 14 times lower, a fact that has been heavily criticized by economic experts, such as Cuban economist Pedro Monreal.
Frequently asked questions about the construction of the beach volleyball stadium in Varadero
Why is the construction of a beach volleyball stadium being proposed in Varadero?
The aim is to create a permanent installation to replace the current temporary structures used during the annual Norceca Beach Volleyball Circuit tournament. The construction aims to increase capacity to enhance the show, support the athletes’ preparation, and elevate the prestige of the event. However, the decision has sparked controversy amid the ongoing energy and economic crisis in Cuba.
What are the criticisms regarding the construction of the new stadium in Varadero?
Critics argue that resources should be allocated to address more urgent issues, such as blackouts, the lack of maintenance of critical infrastructure, and the shortage of food and medicine. Many question the government’s priority in investing in a stadium at a time of severe economic and energy crisis.
How does Cuba’s energy situation affect this initiative?
The energy crisis in Cuba, characterized by blackouts and a lack of maintenance in thermal power plants, makes the construction of a beach volleyball stadium seem like a questionable investment. The population endures prolonged electricity outages, while the government prioritizes projects that do not address basic infrastructure issues.
What impact does the economic crisis have on Varadero as a tourist destination?
Varadero, despite being one of the main tourist hubs in Cuba, faces significant deterioration due to a lack of maintenance and investment. The economic crisis has led to a decrease in tourist arrivals, and the current conditions of hotel infrastructures have been criticized, impacting the perception of Varadero as a quality destination.
Sports
Final round of national volleyball to begin Thursday
Final round of national volleyball to begin Thursday DHAKA, June 21, 2025 (BSS)-The final round of the National Volleyball competition (30th men’s and 25th women’s) will be held from June 26-30 at Shaheed Noor Hossain National Volleyball Stadium in the capital. A total of seven teams of men’s section and six teams of women’s section […]
Final round of national volleyball to begin Thursday
DHAKA, June 21, 2025 (BSS)-The final round of the National Volleyball competition (30th men’s and 25th women’s) will be held from June 26-30 at Shaheed Noor Hossain National Volleyball Stadium in the capital.
A total of seven teams of men’s section and six teams of women’s section will directly participate in the final round.
The seven men’s teams are defending champions Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Navy, Kushtia, Dhaka, Bogra, and Rajshahi districts while the six women’s teams are reigning champions Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Party, Bangladesh Police, Satkhira, Rajshahi, Chattogram and Jessore districts.
Talking to BSS today (Saturday) Bangladesh Volleyball Federation general secretary Bimal Ghosh Bhulu said before the final round of the men’s competition a two-day men’s selection round would be held from June 23-24 at the same venue with the participation of six teams.
He informed that Bangladesh Ansar and VDP, Bangladesh Police Volleyball Club, Bangladesh Krira Shkiia Protisthan, Power Development Board, Titas Club and Bangladesh Jail would take part in the selection round. After the selection round, top four out of six teams would qualify for the final round.
Bimal said the national volleyball competition has been postponed for a long time but now we are going to revive the meet. Since we have SABA International Volleyball competition in October in Dhaka, so we have plan to select forty to forty five players from the national competition and bring them under long-term training.
Sports
How to watch AVP beach volleyball: TV schedule, channel, live stream for 2025 East Hampton tournament
The AVP beach volleyball tournament is set for June 21-22 in East Hampton, NY, featuring both men’s and women’s matches. Competing teams include the Dallas Dream, Austin Aces, New York Nitro, and Brooklyn Blaze. Currently, the women’s Blaze boasts an undefeated 4-0 record, while the Aces hold a 2-0 record, with their matchup on Sunday […]
The AVP beach volleyball tournament is set for June 21-22 in East Hampton, NY, featuring both men’s and women’s matches. Competing teams include the Dallas Dream, Austin Aces, New York Nitro, and Brooklyn Blaze. Currently, the women’s Blaze boasts an undefeated 4-0 record, while the Aces hold a 2-0 record, with their matchup on Sunday expected to be a highlight. Matches will air live on The CW and CBS Sports Network, and viewers can stream them on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
By the Numbers
- Four men’s games and four women’s games will be played over the weekend.
- The women’s Brooklyn Blaze is currently 4-0, while the Aces are 2-0.
State of Play
- The two best performing women’s teams, Blaze and Aces, will clash on Sunday, potentially affecting their undefeated statuses.
- Matches will be broadcasted live on The CW and CBS Sports Network, with additional streaming options available on Fubo.
What’s Next
As the tournament unfolds, expect thrilling matches that will impact team standings in this early-stage competition. Key matchups this weekend could set the tone for the rest of the season.
Bottom Line
This weekend’s matches in East Hampton could significantly influence the race for the top seeds, especially with the Brooklyn Blaze vying to maintain their undefeated record against strong competition.
Sports
New pickleball, hoops facility to open soon with ties to 2 ex-Syracuse basketball players
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Alpen Bluffs Goes All In on a Full-Service Experience | Features
Lodging, dining, a waterpark, mini golf, groceries, and more await By Ross Boissoneau | June 21, 2025 Go ahead, call it glamping if you must. But please don’t call Alpen Bluffs a glampground. “It’s Michigan’s first outdoor hotel,” says Rob Platt, one of the owners of the newly opened Gaylord facility. With cabins, yurts, and […]
Lodging, dining, a waterpark, mini golf, groceries, and more await
By Ross Boissoneau | June 21, 2025
Go ahead, call it glamping if you must. But please don’t call Alpen Bluffs a glampground. “It’s Michigan’s first outdoor hotel,” says Rob Platt, one of the owners of the newly opened Gaylord facility.
With cabins, yurts, and RV sites that all include hookups to city water and sewer, plus a restaurant, market, and other amenities, it’s hard to argue with that term. “It’s an RV resort plus 44 accommodations that are not RVs,” Platt says.
Indeed, with all its amenities, Alpen Bluffs is much more than just a campground or glampground. Start with Inukshuk Shores, an aquatic waterpark that features an inflatable obstacle course floating on a man-made pond, a sandy beach area, comfy chairs, locker rooms, and a concessions area. Alpen Point is an 18-hole mini golf course. Youngsters can mine for gems at Matterhorn Mine, a gem mining sluice.
Mulligans at the Bluffs is a full-service restaurant with seven indoor golf simulators, an expansive outdoor patio, and lawn games, including shuffleboard, bean bag toss, a putting green, lawn bowling, and croquet. The resort includes a grab-and-go store at its welcome center and Alpen Market, a full-service grocery store.
All those are open to both the public and guests. Those staying at the resort can also take advantage of other exclusive amenities: pickleball courts, a dog park, a playground, horseshoes, table tennis, sand volleyball, golf cart rentals, pedal cart rentals, bicycle rentals, food trucks, and communal fire pits.
But wait, there’s more: The upcoming Bluff Club will include a shipping container bar with food offerings from the grill and smoker, a resort-style outdoor pool, hot tub, and cabanas.
The Bigger Picture
It’s all part of a plan, according to Platt, one that came about when he saw property across from Otsego Resort was for sale. He and his business partner Craig Snyder purchased it, then began working to buy other contiguous parcels, ending up with 45 acres within one of Michigan’s Opportunity Zones. The Opportunity Zones offer tax deferral and potential tax-free growth on investments held for at least 10 years.
Platt and Synder’s backgrounds include work in construction, property management, and mixed-use development, including properties featuring living spaces, coffee shops, valet parking—even rooftop pools and restaurants. It all dovetailed nicely into the creation of Alpen Bluffs, where they wanted to bring such design details and what he calls “experiential living” to an outdoor space rather than an urban property.
The 45-acre resort is located just outside of Gaylord proper—literally one and a half miles from the heart of downtown. Platt and his partners don’t see Alpen Bluffs as competition for other resorts, but rather another attraction within northern Michigan. They say the goal is simply to offer another exciting and memorable option for families looking to have fun together. “Downtown Gaylord is unique, plus the Golf Mecca, skiing—you can walk across the road to golf and ski at Otsego Resort,” says Platt.
The Opening Slate
He says all the purchases and planning took place during the heart of the COVID lockdown. He and his partners recognized the immediate appeal of outdoor activities and business and believed that would be a long-term attraction. “Up North and the U.P. were always great destinations for outdoor hospitality,” he says.
The first part of the plan came to fruition last September with the opening of Mulligans at the Bluffs, offering winter golf leagues. Also opened were outdoor games associated with the restaurant, as well as the mini golf (including nine holes designed for ADA accommodations) and the gem mining sluice.
The next phase came in late May, with the opening of a number of RV spaces, four cabins, two pickleball courts, dog park, pedal cart, bicycle, and golf cart rentals, the bathhouses with laundry facilities and Alpen Market. Inukshuk Shores, the aquatic waterpark, opened Father’s Day weekend.
The last phase includes the balance of the resort’s 30 cabins, 14 yurts, and remaining amenities, as well as the outdoor pool. All those are scheduled to be open and available sometime between mid-July and mid-August.
The Year-Round Mindset
Platt says a key consideration was creating accommodations and attractions that could be open year-round. The cabins and yurts are open in the winter, as is Mulligans at the Bluffs. That allows them to keep a large portion of staff on payroll throughout the year.
Platt is also cognizant of the challenge endemic to virtually every business of finding enough staff. When fully open, he estimates there will be 45 to 50 staffers needed for the aquatic water park, and close to 60 for housekeeping. That’s more than 100 just for those two parts of the operation.
He also recognizes the concurrent need for housing for employees. “It can be difficult to find housing,” he admits, noting they rented one of the cabins to their new food and beverage manager.
When it comes to more housing, Platt hopes they’ve found at least part of the solution. “We own 37 acres less than a mile south. The intent for our next project is [building] a single-family-home neighborhood,” he says. He believes the cabins they purchased for the resort could be used or modified for use on that site, depending on zoning.
The Alpen Bluffs team plans to expand the resort’s social activities and offerings when the build-out is complete. That includes live music on the weekends at Mulligans, the haunted house in the cart barn at Halloween, and pig roasts, all of which will be open to the public. There are plans for special services for guests as well, including offering food delivery services to the individual campsites and intimate dining experiences along the water of Inukshuk Shores.
Though just barely open, Platt says they are already fielding requests for reservations for 2026. “We’re getting good feedback from people already. They are booking for next year,” he says.
Learn more about Alpen Bluffs at alpenbluffs.com.
Sports
52nd AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships – Orlando Sentinel
Winter Park Volleyball Club (WPVC) 16 Armour Black’s Teagan Mitchell-Timmons,(5) left and Kennedy Walker, (2) right, attempt to block the ball during their match in the 52nd AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center. Orlando, Fla., Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel) (Left to Right) Top Select 16 […]
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Winter Park Volleyball Club (WPVC) 16 Armour Black’s Teagan Mitchell-Timmons,(5) left and Kennedy Walker, (2) right, attempt to block the ball during their match in the 52nd AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center. Orlando, Fla., Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
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Television and radio – June 21, 2025
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