The national men’s beach volleyball squad from Antigua and Barbuda has officially left their home country for the Dominican Republic, where they are set to compete at the 25th edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games, scheduled to take place in Santo Domingo in 2026.
The two-person team, consisting of athletes Raenor Sharpe and Miguel Peña-Lugo, will carry the nation’s flag in the beach volleyball tournament, with head coach Olsen Joseph traveling alongside the pair to provide on-site strategic guidance and training support.
This year’s regional Games are scheduled to run from July 23 through August 1, drawing hundreds of top-tier competitive athletes from 30+ countries and territories across the Central American and Caribbean region. The multi-sport event serves as a key benchmark for regional athletic excellence, giving rising and established sports stars a platform to test their skills against top opponents ahead of larger international competitions.
In an official statement ahead of the team’s departure, the Antigua and Barbuda Volleyball Association confirmed that the squad has completed an intensive months-long preparation camp, and is ready to compete with integrity and national pride against some of the strongest beach volleyball teams in the region.
The governing body also extended formal gratitude to the Antigua and Barbuda National Olympic Committee for its ongoing financial, logistical, and programmatic support, which was critical to enabling the team to secure entry, cover travel costs, and complete pre-tournament training.
Closing its statement, the association extended well-wishes to the delegation, saying: “Safe travels, Team 268 — we have full confidence that you will make Antigua and Barbuda proud on the regional court.”