Belizean, Bryton Codd to Finland While Three Belizeans Head to Tokyo for Olympics

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Bryton Codd
Amado Cruz
Shaun Gill
Samantha Dirks

By Jem Smith
History has been made for one Belizean athlete, his family and the country. Bryton Codd, 26, is only the third from the entire Central American region and the first Belizean to be drafted to play professional volleyball in Europe. He expects to be in Finland for the next two years where he will be playing in the Mestaruusliga and the European Volleyball Confederation. Codd expects to be in Finland for the next 2 years, from August 1, 2021, to April 30, 2023, where will be playing in the Mestaruusliga and the European Volleyball Confederation.
The momentous signing of his contract took place on Friday, July 2 in the Mexico Sports Center. Aside from his volleyball family, Cod’s own family was there, supporting him like they always do. In a Facebook post where Codd initially made the announcement, he thanked his family, particularly his parents, for having supported him and he made strides in the volleyball discipline since a young age. He says that if it wasn’t for the support of his parents, he would not be able to achieve this particular dream of his, something he has been working hard to achieve. Codd is well known on the volleyball scene in Belize and has gotten far in his sport. Now, he will be playing with Team Perpo, or Lakkapää, in Rovaniemi, Finland. His contract will cover his salary, but Codd says that it will also include accommodations, transport, athletic therapists and masseuses, and weekday meals.
Codd has been playing for a little under a decade, since the age of 17, and quickly became an excellent athlete. He made his way to the national team due to his talent and discipline and was awarded an athletic scholarship to Briercrest University in Canada in 2018.
While Codd will be heading to Europe in less than a month, three Belizeans will be heading to Asia. Shaun Gill, Samantha Dirks, and Amado Cruz will be representing Belize in the 2021 Olympics scheduled for July 23 in Tokyo, Japan. Gill will be representing Belize in the one 100 meter race and was given a Universality Place since no Belizean athlete qualified directly to the Olympics. Gill is currently training in the United States of America. He will be joined by his countrywoman, Samantha Dirks, who will compete in the 400-meter race. Cruz, who is currently in Spain training to represent Belize for the first time in the Olympic canoe race, was also given a Universality Place.