In a historic two-day meeting, FIVB President Dr. Ary Graca and the FIVB staff met with eight of the top volleyball leagues around the world.
The meeting comprised of topics such as – the international long-term volleyball calendar and the creation of real value for the sport by maximizing the promotion of volleyball and its stars around the world. The promotion, growth and expansion of volleyball around the world is a major goal of the FIVB. The meeting held was a big first step in optimizing the international volleyball calendar, with additional meetings planned in the future.
Talks at the meeting included a wide array of topics that are impacting national and international volleyball calendars. The discussions covered the promotion of the sport in order to reach the widest possible audience they could reach and fighting to television coverage with other sports. Helping sponsors create value around the sport was another subject of discussion and ensuring that the welfare of the players was at the forefront of any of the calendar discussions.
The representatives included Brazil (Brazil Superliga), China (Chinese Volleyball League), Italy (Italian SuperLega), Japan (Japanese V.Premier League), Korea (Korean V-League), Poland (Polish PlusLiga), Russia (Russian Super League) and Turkey (Turkish Volleyball League). They met to discuss specific issues and problems within their own markets, ranging from travel times between different time zones to the difficulties of harmonizing national and international calendars.
From the FIVB, joining President Graca were 1st Executive Vice President Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, FIVB 2nd Executive Vice President Aleksandar Boricic – each of which are a part of the FIVB Sports Events Council Working Group, dedicated to the International Volleyball Calendar topic – FIVB Secretart General Fernando Lima, FIVB General Director Fabio Azevedo and FIVB Volleyball Events Director Gabrielle van Zwieten.
All the information that was gathered at the meeting is now made available to the FIVB’s Executive Committee and Board of Administration, who will meet to further discuss the points of the meeting. In a series of meetings, the International Volleyball Federation will continue to firm up short and long term calendars for world volleyball within the sport’s stakeholders.
The FIVB is continuing their aim to make volleyball the number one family sport entertainment in the world.
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