Father v son dilemma for volleyball family

Jon Uriarte says it's destiny and a gift that his Australian team will face his son Nicolas and native Argentina in their opening volleyball pool match at the London Olympics.

Uriarte, 50, is in his second coaching stint in Australia and his reward for qualifying the 'Volleyroos' for London is a showdown to conflict the loyalties of his family back in Buenos Aires.

Uriarte, who won a bronze medal with Argentina at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, has coached his home country in between stints with Australia in 2001-2004 and since May last year. Australia qualified for a second Olympics after finishing ahead of higher-ranked Iran, Japan, China and South Korea at a qualifying tournament in Tokyo in June.

He roars with laughter at the thought his emerging Australian team will have his country of birth, organised by setter Nicolas, lining up on the other side of the net in their opening game at Earl's Court on July 29.

"It's some kind of gift. I can't believe it that I would be at the Olympics with my son for our own achievements," Uriarte told AFP. "Nicolas is now 22, he's earned his position in the Argentina national team and I've been so happy that life has given me this opportunity for my work to be so fulfilled. "My son is having a similar opportunity and he is earning his position in the national team and then we are going to be together in the same party at the Olympics, that is something amazing.

"To be there with all of my family and enjoying being there and expressing ourselves is some kind of gift for our life." Jon is in regular contact with his family and Nicolas through Internet video calls and says his family was overjoyed when news reached them that Australia had made it through to the Olympics. "That night it was 12 hours' time difference from Japan to Argentina and when I woke up the next day I connected with them through Skype and my family was having sushi just to celebrate that we had qualified for the Olympics in Japan," he chuckled.

"All my three children play volleyball. It was their choice. They are very passionate about their sport, everybody was just so happy. The technology allowed me to watch them having that dinner on my screen." But now come the split loyalties among the Uriarte clan as the big day draws near.

Jon's daughter, Delfina, 15, who has played state-level volleyball in Buenos Aires and lived for four years in Australia during her father's first stint there, knows who she will be supporting in London.

"My wife asked Delfina 'who are you going to cheer for?' and she said 'I will paint my two cheeks both countries' flags, but I want Australia to win'", Jon said. AFP