19-SEPTEMBER-2012
WORKSHOP PRECEDES WORLD VOLLEYBALL CONGRESS
 

FIVB President, Mr. Jizhong Wei spoke in yesterday’s World Volleyball Congress Workshop, held in Anahein (USA). Mr. Wei has encouraged the national federations to participate actively in the development of the sport and the continuation of the excellent relations between the highest organ of Volleyball and all national federations. [Live streaming]

“This workshop emphasizes the dialogue and the exchange of opinion. Let’s work together for a stronger FIVB” said Mr. Jizhong Wei.

The workshop, which preceded the 33rd FIVB World Congress, began with a presentation of the Development Commission activities, presided by Mr. Vicente Araújo (Portuguese Volleyball Federation and FIVB Vice-President). During the presentation, Mr. Araújo alongside with Mr. Helgi Thorsteinsson (FIVB Technical & Development Director) highlighted the large increase recorded by the Development Fund year after year.

As an example, since 2009, the Volley All Festival has gathered 1.3 million youngsters and 199 national federations. To the present day, FIVB has lectured 1.038 courses which involved 25.638 participants. Also the Volleyball Cooperation Program has been active the entire year of 2012.

There were 159 delegates attending the workshop, in representation of 162 countries, 39 of them from the African continent. The event ended with the inspiring presentations of Vanuatu, Zimbabwe, Togo and Uruguay.

The 33rd FIVB World Congress will be held in Anaheim, United States, from 19-21 September.
The Portuguese Volleyball Federation will be represented by its President and FIVB Vice-President, Mr. Vicente Araújo, Mr. Álvaro Lopes and Mr. Teodemiro de Carvalho, respectively FPV Director and General Secretary.

The FIVB World Congress marks an important historical moment, as referred by its President, Mr. Jizhong Wei “This is the first democratic election in FIVB’s history.

”There are three candidates running for FIVB’s presidency:
- North American Doug Beal, FIVB Administrative Council Member and USA Volleyball CEO;
- Brazilian Ary Graça, FIVB Executive Vice-President, South American Confederation President and Brazilian Volleyball Confederation President;
- Australian Chris Schacht, Australian Volleyball Federation President.

In 2004, the 29th FIVB World Congress was held in the city of Porto, Portugal, having gathered 192 delegates of 162 National Federations, a record of participation at the time. This congress was marked also by the integration of Timor-Leste as the 218th National Federation on FIVB and the adoption of Portuguese as one of FIVB’s official languages.

More info: www.fivb.org