31st FIVB World Congress

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FIVB President Dr. Acosta looks back fondly upon 24 years of unparalleled success and expresses confidence in incoming President Jizhong Wei following 31st FIVB World Congress in Dubai

FIVB President Dr. Rubén Acosta talks during a press conference following the 31st FIVB World Congress

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 18, 2008 – Dr. Rubén Acosta looked back fondly upon the progress of Volleyball during his 24 years as President of the FIVB and expressed his trust in the future of the sport under incoming President Jizhong Wei at a press conference Wednesday following the 31st FIVB World Congress in Dubai.

“We have accomplished the first two phases in the life of our organisation,” said Dr. Acosta. The first phase was until 1984 under the leadership of Paul Libaud for 37 years and I would like to pay homage to him. The second phase has taken 24 years and in those years we have been trying to find our way and have achieved a series of improvements. The third phase starts with the election of Mr. Jizhong Wei.

“I’m sure Mr.Wei will bring new fresh ideas to our sport. It is not just a matter of age, it is a matter of competence. He will bring new ways, a new image. I wish him good luck,” said President Acosta, who also took the opportunity to pay a special tribute to the World Congress Guest of Honour and organisers.

“I want to express our sincere and heartfelt thanks to Guest of Honour H.H. Sheik Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to accept and patronise this 31st FIVB World Congress, the gathering of the biggest sports conference in the world,” said Dr. Acosta. “It was the best World Congress ever organised. I give my sincere thanks to the people of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates Volleyball Association.”

Jizhong Wei to be third President in history of FIVB

Mr. Jizhong Wei of China will be the third President in the history of the FIVB, after the 31^st FIVB World Congress in Dubai approved by acclamation his election after Dr. Rubén Acosta’s Presidency of 24 years of outstanding success. The handover of the Presidency will be made on August 24 in Beijing.

Wei, President of the Asian Volleyball Confederation, was born on November 12, 1936, in Shanghai, the biggest city of China. While studying in high school, Wei discovered Volleyball at the age of sixteen when he represented his school team in competitions in his home city. Two years later, his passion for Volleyball as well as for studying only increased when he was admitted to Nanjing University, one of the most prestigious universities in China, He joined the university Volleyball team soon afterwards. Full energy and easily excited, Wei divided his time between French and Volleyball, excelling in his studies and winning many collegiate tournaments for his university.

After receiving his degree in 1958, Wei made one of the most crucial decisions of his life: to abandon his field of study and take up sports activity full-time. He worked for the Ministry of Sport for many years. From 1986, Wei worked as the Secretary General of the China Olympic Committee and later the Vice President of the Committee. From 1988 to 1997, Wei moved positions to become External Affairs' Department Director of the China State Sports Commission. Wei also made a great contribution to the success of the Olympic Games Bidding - 2008 Beijing, as he was the Secretary General of the 2000 Beijing Olympic Games Bidding Committee and held the post of Special Assistant to the Chairman for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Bidding Committee.

In 1982, Wei -- who speaks English as well as he does French -- began his work for the world Volleyball family as a member of the FIVB Legal Commission. Wei made his great leap forward in 1984, the year in which Dr. Ruben Acosta was elected President of FIVB. That year, Wei was called upon to preside over the Legal Commission of the International Volleyball Federation. And to better promote publicity and marketing for Asian Volleyball, Wei was entrusted and elected the Chairman of AVC Marketing Committee in 1997. At the AVC 14th General Assembly held in September 2001 in Bangkok of Thailand, Wei was elected AVC president

Besides his duties with FIVB and AVC, Wei is also Secretary General of the Chinese Olympic Committee, President of the Chinese Taekwondo Association and an Executive Board Member of the Olympic Council of Asia. Wei is also Chairman of the Chinese Sports Industrial Co. Ltd, a listed company.

Dr. Acosta is leaving the presidency of the FIVB; Mr. Wei Jizhong (China) will take charge during the interim period until 2012

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 17, 2008 – Dr. Rubén Acosta (Mexico) made official his announced retirement from the presidency of the International Volleyball Federation at the end of the 31st FIVB World Congress which finished on Tuesday 17 June in Dubai. Mr. Wei Jizhong (China), First Vice-President, will take over the leadership of the organisation as President, unanimously elected until the next elections forseen in 2012, according to the recent decision of the Congress to follow again in four years’ time the Olympiad cycle.

The delegates of the 200 National Federations gathered in Dubai gave a long, warm ovation to Dr. Acosta who, for personal reasons, had expressed his intention last month to cut short his mandate on the occasion of the Opening Ceremony of “Château Les Tourelles,” the new premises owned exclusively by the FIVB in Lausanne.

“I am leaving the presidency during this Congress so that a new era can unfold for the FIVB,” declared the Mexican leader, who has presided over the world Volleyball organisation for nearly a quarter of a century. He succeeded the Frenchman, Mr. Paul Libaud, the President who founded the FIVB in 1947, on the occasion of the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984.

THE MESSAGE OF THE FIVB PRESIDENT TO THE CONGRESS
"Farewell to Volleyball and to those who trusted us"

Mission Accomplished
Our commitments pledged in Tokyo 2006 have been completed in less than two years time and with your permission we have decided that it is time for my wife and for me to go home and allow, our actual Executive Committee members, a four years transfer period till 2012. I am ready to hand over the command in this Congress so that a new era can start as soon as possible.

The End of our Journey has come
Finally, after 24 years, the time has come for someone else to take the relay. Here in Dubai I have presented my last report to the General Assembly of the International Volleyball Federation. This has been the 12th time that I have submitted to your consideration the balance of our efforts made at the head of the FIVB activities, competitions and administration of our sports programs during the last two years.
Forty two years ago, in 1966 in Prague, I discovered, and felt for the first time, the world and the ambience of an FIVB Congress and I could not believe it, I had been also for the first time, elected by the Congress as member of the Board of Administration. From there on, I never failed any one of the following 21 Congresses, including the one of my farewell to you here in Dubai!!

Our heart felt thanks to those who trusted us
I sincerely hope that our efforts have not been in vain and that during these days you have pondered the way in which Volleyball affairs were conducted since 1984 when, for the first time, you elected me as your President.
I take with me some memories of my life in FIVB which are also among the most memorable of my life, all of them shared and enjoyed together with my wife who accompanied me all these years during the time of success and happiness as well as in times of anguish and distress. I treasure particularly those when one of us, tired or discouraged, hesitated and the other was always there providing moral support and new energy for a new fresh depart.

Our Hopes were never in vain
We found intensely long the nights of our sorrows but we were not promised to have only quiet and serene nights, instead we felt extremely short the days of successful happenings and very long those on which projects had vanished; we gave and received, we laughed and lamented, but never our hopes were in vain. Our work was very demanding and hard but it always gave results and it was worthwhile.

We Built our own Destiny
Today, at the end of the road, we can proudly tell you, that we go with no regrets and eagerly we can say, that the mission you entrusted us has been accomplished and the promise we made to our friend Paul Libaud, when he passed us the relay, has been delivered. In fact, Malú and I together we built our own destiny when, during our best years in FIVB, from among the many ways others were offering us, together we chose the way to go and now, when we look back today, we realize with joy that the way chosen was the right one and that it was always OUR WAY!.

Thank you all, for having so kindly been part of our fascinating journey of 8’740 days and for your support which made possible for all of us to build and consolidate the world of Volleyball. Thanks, thanks forever.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 17 2008

Volleyball Family welcomes Ruling Family of Dubai as 31st FIVB World Congress opens: President Acosta awards Gold FIVB Grand Cross to Guest of Honour H.H. Sheik Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 16, 2008 – On a day when a number of important decisions were approved to help shape the future of Volleyball, FIVB President Dr. Rubén Acosta began the 31st FIVB World Congress with a special tribute to Guest of Honour H.H. Sheik Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, awarding the Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance with the Gold FIVB Grand Cross, the world Volleyball community’s most prestigious award.

Members of Dubai’s Ruling Family graced the opening session of the two-day Congress with their presence Monday. The other Congress Guests of Honour in attendance were UAE National Olympic Committee President H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, H.H. Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, H.H. Sheikh Saeed Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and H.E. Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Culture and Community Development and President of the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare.

FIVB Executive Committee to put forward major proposal at 31st FIVB World Congress in Dubai: Up to 14 players in each team with two liberos

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 15, 2008 – The FIVB Executive Committee convened Saturday for the final time in preparation for the start of the 31st FIVB World Congress in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, discussing FIVB Board of Administration proposals concerning the participation of players in National Leagues and preparing different recommendations for the assembly during the Congress.

The FIVB Executive discussed and unanimously approved to submit to the FIVB General Assembly a major change in Volleyball rules of having up to 14 players in each team, with a compulsory two libero players on the list. The Congress will discuss the proposal and make the final decision.

FIVB Executive Committee meets in Dubai ahead of the 31st FIVB World Congress

Lausanne, June 13, 2008 - With just a few days to go until the 31st FIVB World Congress, the FIVB Executive has agreed with the final preparations underway for the two-day meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Congress will be held Monday, June 16, and Tuesday, June 17, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, where Executive Committee Members and delegates of 200 National Federations will set a plan for a new approach of Volleyball activities.

The Congress Guests of Honour are H.H. Sheik Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, UAE National Olympic Committee President H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, H.H. Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, H.H. Sheikh Saeed Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and H.E. Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Culture and Community Development and President of The General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare. They also will be joined by a number of special guests and VIP guests.