FIVB History

FIVB HISTORY

The Founding
	A decisive moment in the history of volleyball’s first 100 years was certainly that of the founding of the FIVB (Federation Internationale de Volleyball) when in April 1947 representatives of 14 countries (Belgium, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, France, Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Uruguay, USA and Yugoslavia) met in Paris under the leadership of France’s Paul Libaud to found the FIVB. Libaud, President of the French Federation, was elected first President of the FIVB. The headquarters were established in Paris, where they remained for the first 37 years until 1984 when Mexico’s Dr Rubén Acosta took over the Presidency from Libaud.
The Beginning of the FIVB World Championships
	The first World Championships were organised in 1949 for Men and 1952 for Women and both have remained the biggest events in volleyball, along with the Olympic Games, since 1964. The world competitions immediately generated enthusiasm, and the number of players and National Federations affiliated with the FIVB grew by leaps and bounds. Volleyball fever had caught on just about everywhere and increased rapidly. FIVB promoted events began to multiply.
Olympic Games
	Testifying to the prestige attained in 1959 at the IOC session in Munich, volleyball was included as a medal sport in the Olympic Games. The game was played with 10 Men’s and six Women’s teams for the first time at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, where the Japanese Women and USSR Men won gold medals. Consequently, the Volleyball phenomenon started in Japan soon after the Games. Thirty-two years later, at the Atlanta Games, Beach Volleyball, one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, made its Olympic debut as Volleyball’s successful second discipline.
The World Cup
	In 1965, Poland hosted the first World Cup for Men before Uruguay hosted the first World Cup for Women in 1973. Following the first two editions for Men and the first edition for Women, Japan gave new life to Men’s and Women’s World Cups by staging the third and second editions respectively in 1977. From there on until today, with the sponsorship of Fuji Television, the quadrennial World Cup has become a major event and qualifies three teams for the Olympic Games.
Members rising
	From the 14 founding members the FIVB grew to 45 in 1955, 89 in 1964 and 101 in 1968, distributed over the five continents: 25 in Europe, 25 in Asia, 25 in Africa, 11 in South America, and 15 in NORCECA (North, Central America and the Caribbean). Today the Federation counts 220 affiliated National Federations including 53 in Africa, 65 in Asia, 56 in Europe, 34 in NORCECA and 12 in South America.
Dr Rubén Acosta succeeds President Paul Libaud
	One of the big turning points for the FIVB came in 1984 when President Paul Libaud, by then in his 80s and highly acclaimed for having founded the Federation and making it a significant reality on the world sports stage, resigned after 37 years of leadership. Dr Rubén Acosta was elected new President to succeed Libaud at the World Congress in Long Beach, California.
The Move
	The FIVB moved its headquarters to Lausanne, Switzerland, the same year, bringing it closer to the International Olympic Committee and providing a wonderful base to promote the sport in worldwide competitions held in the five continents (Asia, Africa, Europe, South America and NORCECA).
From game to great TV spectacle
	At the same time, volleyball went through a number of modifications to change the face of the sport. The need to make it more telegenic in order to attract fans and sponsors led to major modifications in 1998, such as the introduction of the Rally Point System, the Libero player, the “let ball in play” rule and many other new rules that makes the game much more attractive.
Change at the helm in 2008
	Mr Jizhong Wei of China became the third President in the history of the FIVB after the 31st FIVB World Congress in Dubai approved by acclamation his election following the retirement of Dr Rubén Acosta after 24 years of outstanding success. Mr Wei, who will be President until elections are held in 2012, immediately ushered in a new era of development for the FIVB with specific concentration being made to support national federations and confederations in their activities and the growth of volleyball around the world.
Investing in development and further federation support
	The FIVB spent more in development during 2009 than any other year in its history by allocating increased financial resources to the FIVB confederations to help national federations. The key behind the new initiative is increased support for grass roots development, with the beneficiary in the long term being volleyball right around the world. In 2010, the FIVB pledged to increase federation support both financially and in terms of resources. A ground-breaking development fund, controlled by the FIVB, was launched to work in line with the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity program where all FIVB national federations have the opportunity to propose projects for funding through their continental confederations.

A brand new FIVB
	In 2011 the FIVB launched a new rebranding and marketing campaign in order to usher in a new era for volleyball and beach volleyball. As part of the rebranding a new FIVB logo was unveiled while a key marketing campaign – FIVB Heroes – was launched at the FIVB’s key events aimed at elevating the sport of volleyball globally through its biggest stars.

FIVB-United Nations collaboration
	The UN and the FIVB signed a Global Partnership for Development agreement in 2011 where both organisations announced their intention to promote shared values, to drive forward international development and to support the attainment of the UN Millennium Development Goals throughout the world.

New President in 2012
	Dr Ary Graça was elected as the fourth FIVB President at the FIVB Congress at Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, USA on September 21, 2012, taking over the presidency from Mr Jizhong Wei. Dr Graça had previously been president of the Brazil Volleyball Federation and the South American Confederation (CSV), as well as a member of the FIVB Board of Administration.

Today and tomorrow
	The FIVB consists of 220 affiliated federations and governs, manages and promotes all forms of volleyball and beach volleyball worldwide through tournaments such as the World Championships, World League, World Grand Prix, World Cup, Grand Champions Cup, Club World Championships, FIVB Swatch World Tour, FIVB Swatch World Championships, Beach Volleyball Continental Cup and Beach Volleyball World Cup, Junior and Youth tournaments and, of course, the Olympics.

KEY DATES

1954: Asian Confederation is created as a Zone Commission
1958: South America is created as a Zone Commission
1963: European Confederation is created as a Zone Commission
1967: African Confederation is created as a Zone Commission
1969: NORCECA (North, Central American and Caribbean) Confederation is created as a Zone Commission

1972: The five Continental Zone Sport Commissions are recognized as Continental Confederations.

1993: FIVB becomes the largest sports organisation in the world with 210 affiliated member associations.

FIVB PRESIDENTS

1947-1984 Paul Libaud (FRA)
1984-2008 Rubén Acosta (MEX)
2008-2012 Jizhong Wei (CHN)
2012- Ary Graça (BRA)

FIVB WORLD CONGRESS HISTORY

	Dates	Location	Number of delegates from NF*
1	18-20 Apr 1947	Paris (FRA)	14
2	12-18 Sept 1949	Prague (CZE)	11
3	18-22 Sept 1951	Paris (FRA)	23
4	14-16 Nov 1953	Bucharest (ROM)	20
5	25-27 Nov 1955	Florence (ITA)	23
6	7-8 Sept 1957	Moscow (RUS)	30
7	2-6 Oct 1959	Budapest (HUN)	32
8	6-11 Sept 1961	Marseille (FRA)	34
9	16-20 Oct 1964	Tokyo (JPN)	46
10	8-10 Sept 1966	Prague (CZE)	47
11	18-22 Oct 1968	Mexico City (MEX)	74
12	25-29 Sept 1970	Sofia (BUL)	70
13	4-6 Sept 1972	Munich (GER)	81
14	9-10 Oct 1974	Mexico City (MEX)	79
15	28-29 July 1976	Montreal (CAN)	77
16	29-30 Sept 1978	Rome (ITA)	70
17	31 July - 1 Aug 1980	Moscow (RUS)	84
18	29-30 Sept 1982	Buenos Aires (ARG)	88
19	25-26 July 1984	Los Angeles (USA)	90
20	5-6 Sept 1986	Prague (CZE)	62
21	14-15 Sept 1988	Seoul (KOR)	91
22	13-14 Oct 1990	Rio de Janeiro (BRA)	101
23	21-22 July 1992	Barcelona (ESP)	110
24	23-24 Sept 1994	Athens (GRE)	134
25	14-16 July 1996	Atlanta (USA)	134
26	26-28 Oct 1998	Tokyo (JPN)	139
27	2-4 Aug 2000	Seville (ESP)	156
28	21-23 Sept 2002	Buenos Aires (ARG)	177
29	12-13 May 2004	Porto (POR)	168
30	23-25 Oct 2006	Tokyo (JPN)	196
31	16-17 June 2008	Dubai (UAE)	184
32	9-10 Sept 2010	Rome (ITA)	195
33	19-21 Sept 2012	Anaheim (USA)	206

* incl. proxies