SOME 53 teams from 18 countries are joining the FIVB Beach Volleyball Open in Boracay Island, Aklan.

Charo Soriano, co-organizer of the tournament, said that they chose Boracay as the venue to promote sustainable beach tourism.

Boracay Island has gained international mileage in 2018 after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the closure of this resort island to undergo environmental rehabilitation.

“This tournament is in coordination with the Boracay Inter Agency Task Force, the Department of Tourism and the local government of Boracay,” Soriano said.

The tournament held along the white beach near the famous Boracay rock starts in the afternoon of May 23. (SunStar Philippines)