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FIVB WORLD CONGRESS 2002
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Dr Acosta closed “the best ever” FIVB Congress
Buenos Aires, Sept 23, 2002 – Dr Ruben Acosta who had
just been reelected President of the Fédération
International de Volleyball, on Monday evening closed
what he called “the best Congress ever held by FIVB”.
Dr Acosta added in his closing address that the three-day
meeting was “historical” because of a record attendance
of 177 countries out of 217 affiliated national
federations), the adoption of a Code of Conduct and the
implementation of modern structures.
“I have the pleasure to say that what we have
accomplished here is the signal of a new era in our
sport”, he said.
He also said that “unity, media and participation” have
been the key words of the Congress and that he will
enforce the freedom of speech but only within the FIVB
which has to remain “a crystal house”.
He then thanked “all the people that have made this
Congress possible”. He cited the “diamond value staff”
of the FIVB headquarters, Mrs. Malú Acosta “who headed a
professional preparation of the Congress” , the
Argentinean Organising Committee, the Sheraton hotel
management and all the delegates.
The 29th FIVB World Congress will be held in Portugal in
a city yet to be named, less that a month before the
Athens Olympic Games in
2004.
Dr. Ruben Acosta Re-elected FIVB President
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Sept. 23, 2002 – Dr. Ruben
Acosta was on Monday re-elected President of the
Federation International de Volleyball on Monday here in
the Argentina capital. The election was held on the
third day of the 28th FIVB World Congress.
Dr. Acosta, who has been FIVB President since 1984, was
re-elected by an overwhelming majority. Of the 177 votes
cast by delegates or by proxy, 162 were “yes” votes,
nine were against and six invalid. The result is a huge
vote of confidence for Dr. Acosta’s work with the world’s
biggest sports federation and for his hopes and visions
for the coming four years. Dr Acosta said that this
would be his last term as FIVB President and said it was
now time to encourage a new generation of leaders for
the Federation.
“We have had a very successful Congress,” Dr. Acosta
said at a press conference after the General Elections.
We had voting representation from 177 of our 217
National Federations and that is a record for our
organization”. Dr Acosta thanked Argentina and the city
of Buenos Aires for their hospitality. Speaking of the
economic difficulties that Argentina has been
experiencing, Dr. Acosta said: “We were sure, with the
strength of the people of Argentina, that they would
manage everything. We bet on Argentina and we won.”
In summarizing the most important decisions made by the
Congress, Dr. Acosta said that the FIVB would work
closely together with the United Nations program that
integrated sport as an element for peace and development
with Mr. Adolf Ogi, Special Advisor to UN secretary-General
Kofi Annan. He pledged to support to program with $1
million of funding in addition to funding already
assigned to the established Sports Aid Program (SAP).
Regarding the Code of Conduct accepted by the Congress,
President Acosta said although several countries had
expressed concern that the Code may be in conflict with
individual national law, he underlined that problems
involving volleyball and the federation should be solved
within the sport. This document has already drawn praise
for the IOC.
The decision to accept an integrate a new volleyball
competition based on the height restriction of players
(1.85m for men and 1.75m for women) was greeted with
great enthusiasm by the Congress and the Federation will
immediately begin plans to establish this new format.
“This will open a new dimension form Volleyball,” said
President Acosta. He underlined that none of the rules
would change, nor would the court or net dimensions.
“The open competition as it presently exists would
remain the Olympic discipline,” the President assured.
The new height limit format is yet to be officially
named
The FIVB remained committed to the election of women
within the Federation. Mrs. Rebecca Howard, USA and Mrs.
Rita Subowo, Indonesia were elected to the FIVB
Executive Committee (2002-2006)
The Executive Committee comprises:
FIVB President: Dr. Ruben Acosta, Mexico
Africa: Dr. Amr Elwani, Egypt
Asia: Mr. Jizhong Wei, China; Mr. Adityan Sivanthi,
India; Mr. Saleh Bin Nasser, Saudi Arabia
Europe: Mr. Vincente Araujo, Portugal; Mr. Yuri
Chesnokov, Russia; Mr. Theofanis Tsiokris, Greece; Mr.
Andre Meyer, Luxemburg.
South America: Mr. Ari Graςa
NORCECA: Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, Dominican Republic
Women Members: Mrs. Rebecca Howard, USA; Mrs. Rita
Subowo, Indonesia
Representing the World Championships 2006: Prof. Hiroshi
Toyoda, Japan
Congress agrees unanimously to introduce height limit
Volleyball
Buenos Aires, Argentina – The 28th FIVB World Congress
on Sunday unanimously agreed to introduce a new category
of competition for players of a restricted height,
namely men players under 1.85m and women under 1.75m.
The competition - yet to be officially named - and the
game format will now be investigated and planned for
inclusion in future sporting calendars.
No date has yet been fixed to begin the competition and
to integrate it into the world championship program, but
delegates from a number of countries were enthusiastic
in their support of the project.
“I think this will open opportunities for many countries,
especially many Asian countries, and we would be honored
to host the first World Championship in 2005,” said Mrs.
Rita Subowo, President of the Indonesian Volleyball
Federation.
Dr. Ruben Acosta, President of the FIVB thanked Mrs.
Subowo and said that the FIVB would consider Indonesia’s
offer of hosting the inaugural world championship in
this new discipline. He appealed to National Federations
and continental confederations to encourage the
establishment of height limit competitions as soon as
possible.
Some competitions in this format are already played in
several countries and Brazil will commence an eight team
league in the category from 2003.
According to statistics quoted by Dr. Annie Peytavin,
FIVB Medical Commission President, some 97 percent of
the world’s population is under this height limit. This
competition therefore opens immense opportunities for
the global spread of volleyball.
The decision came on the second day of the Congress, the
bi-annual meeting of the five continental confederations
and 217 affiliated National Federations that sets policy
and makes decisions for this, the world’s biggest
international sports federation.
FIVB announces host countries for U-21 and U-18
Championship
Buenos Aires, Argentina –
The Sports Events Department of the Federation
International de Volleyball have announced the host
countries and tentative dates for the U-21 and U-18
Volleyball Championships for 2003
Details as follows:
• Men’s Under-21 Championship in Iran, August 23-30
• Women’s Under-21 Championship in Malaysia, Sept 6-14
• Boy’s Under-18 Championship in Thailand, July 18-27
• Girl’s Under-21 Championship in Kenya, August 3-17
Please note: dates are only tentative at this
stage
Television Commission call for enhanced broadcasting
techniques for Volleyball
Buenos Aires, Argentina – President of the Television
and new Media Commission, Luis Fernando Lima addressed
the 28th World Congress of the Federation International
de Volleyball on Sunday. He called for improvements in
the techniques of television coverage for volleyball,
saying that the sport and television can be natural
partners.
Mr. Lima presented a series of video clips to illustrate
how the sport can be better enhanced for television.
“Do you want to attract thousands of people into the
stadiums, or do you want to attract millions of
television viewers?” Mr. Lima asked the delegates. He
said it was important to design the style of the game to
allow time for slow motion shots and special camera
effects that would give the viewers a better
understanding of the game.
“Volleyball is very quick and if viewers don’t
understand the game, then they miss some components of
it. We need to have ways of showing people special shots.
The broadcast has to include both information and
emotion,” he said.
Among the proposals put to the Congress were allowing
the use of microphones to capture coach and players’
comment during time-outs, allowing a hand-held camera to
move freely behind the player’s bench and to encourage
the use of more action shots, shots of facial
expressions to capture emotion and close-ups of players,
with audio.
Mr. Lima’s presentation was made on the second day of
this three day event at this, the biannual decision- and
policy-making process for the FIVB, the world’s biggest
sports federation.
Adolf Ogi, UN Special Advisor on Sport for Development
and Peace congratulates FIVB
Buenos Aires, Argentina – Mr. Adolf Ogi, the Special
Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan
on Sport for Development and Peace on Sunday addressed
the FIVB 28th World Congress to present the UN program
for using sport as a means to promote peace and called
for the Federation to help the world body with its work.
The former president of the Swiss Federation also
offered his congratulations to the FIVB for their work
with sport on a global scale.
“Kofi Annan wants you to know that he is thankful for
what you are doing with the greatest sports organization,
and it is no wonder with such a president!” Mr. Ogi told
the Congress. “Ït is incredible what he has done through
sport, with volleyball, and I must say congratulations.
Well done!”
Mr. Ogi also congratulated the FIVB for dedicating their
Congress and the World Championship to peace. “The
Secretary General and myself are most impressed,” he
said.
Mr. Ogi’s address, where he outlined the plan for all
United Agencies to integrate sports into their programs
as a way of promoting peace, was greeted with a standing
ovation by the delegates of the five continental
Confederations and the 217National Federations here to
make decision for the world’s biggest sports federation.
President Dr. Ruben Acosta responded, pledging the FIVB
support to the program.
“In assuming our social responsibilities I suggest that
we take up this challenge,” Dr. Acosta. “Let us offer
our sport to bring some kind of relief and to help show
a little more understanding and peace.
Dr. Acosta’s statement was greeted with a round of
applause and the move was adopted unanimously.
The UN General Assembly has nominated 21st Sept as a day
of global ceasefire and non-violence and has called on
all nations to cease fighting for one day.
“This is not a lot of time,”said Mr. Ogi. “But it is
enough time to stop thinking. You in the world of
Volleyball are showing the example.”
Packed first day of delegates
Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sept 21, 2002 – Delegates to
the 28th World Congress of the Federation de Volleyball
on Saturday dealt with a full day of business in the
opening session of the three day event, dealing with the
complex business of one of the biggest international
sports federations in the world.
On the first day they heard reports from President Ruben
Acosta on the affairs of the Federation over the past
two years. The Financial Report was also tabled in the
morning session.
Delegates from the five Continental Confederations and
217 affiliated National Federations were brought up to
date on the status of the FIVB sporting properties, such
as World league, World Grand Prix and Beach Volleyball.
They also heard of activities at the Federation’s
Development Centers, the Sports Aid programs to
Developing Countries and the Volleyball World Vision
2008 – a long range plan to map out where the sport is
heading and to encourage improved activities from
grassroots level to international competition.
The delegates also debated the FIVB Code of Conduct, a
document that has already drawn praise from the
International Olympic Committee. The Code of Conduct,
which is to be universally adopted by the national
federations, has four core principles – dignity,
integrity, respect and loyalty.
Other business handled on the first day involved
amendments to the FIVB Constitution.
The Congress continues through to Monday, when General
Elections are to be held, including for office of
President.
President Acosta, who has held office since 1984, is the
only candidate, but has insisted that he will not accept
election by acclamation and that the delegates have the
right to cast their vote by secret ballot.
Registration date extended for Olympic participation for
Beach Volleyball
Buenos Aires, Argentina –
The 28th World Congress of the Federation de Volleyball
on Saturday agreed to extend the date for registration
for participation in the 2004 Olympic tournament in
beach volleyball. Closing date will now be October 30,
with late registrations accepted up to November 30th, on
payment of a fine of $US1,000.
In addition, the Congress also agreed to respond to a
number of National Olympic committees who had expressed
disagreement with the Olympic qualification process by
letter in order to clarify the stand of the Federation
on this matter. Countries involved are Britain, Belgium,
Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Mexico, Austria and
Australia.
The qualification system proposes a maximum of four
athletes (two teams each for men and women) for the host
country and foreign countries, with a total overall
participation of 24 men’s and 24 women’s team in the
Olympic tournament.
There is also provision for wild card entries to ensure
participation by a team of each continent, if not
already qualified with a team within the best 23 pairs.
Such a wild card would be granted to the highest ranked
eligible pair from that continent regardless of their
position in the world ranking.
Continental Championships are to be recognized by the
FIVB to count as one of the best eight results for the
purposes of Olympic Qualification.
The delegates to the Congress heard a detailed report on
the development of FIVB’s second Olympic discipline
presented by Mr. Christopher St- John Smith, President
of the Beach Volleyball World Council and Mr. Angelo
Squeo, Beach Volleyball Coordinator. The following rule
changes were approved by the delegates.
• Court dimensions to be 8m x 16m for competitions
between 2002-2004, including the Olympic Games in Athens,
with a minimum of 5m and a maximum of 6m free area
around the court.
• The length of the net to be 9m with posts at
0.70-1.00m from the sidelines
• To adopt a rally point system, best of three sets, the
first two played to 21 points, with a third tiebreaker
to 15 points. All sets to be won by a margin of two
points.
FIVB
SILVER CROSS AWARDS
Buenos Aires,
Argentina, Sept 20, 2002 - The Federation International
de Volleyball on Saturday presented FIVB Silver Cross
Awards for distinguished service to three long-time
members to the International Volleyball Family.
The awards were presented at the opening session of the
28th World Congress by FIVB President Dr. Rubén Acosta,
who personally thanked each of the recipients for their
dedication to the Federation and their hard work over
many years.
The three recipients are Mr. Franz Schmied of
Switzerland, Dr. Endre Holvay of Hungary and Professor
Qi Wei Ma of China. Professor Qi was unable to be
present at the ceremony due to ill health, and his award
was accepted on his behalf by Mr. Wei Jizhong, President
of the Asian Volleyball Confederation.
Mr. Schmied was elected an FIVB Board Member in 1976. In
1987 he became the FIVB Treasurer up until 2001. He has
served as President of the Swiss Volleyball Federation,
and Member of the Swiss Olympic Committee and is
internationally recognized for his contribution to
volleyball as well has having been honoured by his own
country, Switzerland. From 1989 until 2000, Mr. Schmied
was Managing Director of the World League. He is a
former player and coach. He continues to serve the FIVB
in the capacity of Controller.
Dr. Endre Holvay is one of the Founding Fathers of the
Hungarian Volleyball Federation, where he served as a
player, coach, referee and ultimately as its President
on two separate terms from 1955 until 1964 and then in
1974 until 1980. Dr. Holvay, the long-term President of
the Refereeing Commission, is considered to be the
Refereeing Guru”” of Volleyball. He has twice served as
FIVB Vice President and has been a member of the
Hungarian National Olympic Committee since 1965. Dr.
Holvay has also lent his support to change as the sport
of volleyball has evolved.
Professor Qi Wei Ma of China is a distinguished figure
who has made a valuable contribution to the FIVB and
International Volleyball. He is also credited with
bringing six-a-side volleyball to China and is a most
highly honoured sports personality, having been
decorated by the International Olympic Committee and the
Chinese Olympic Committee.
As President of the FIVB Rules of the Game Commission
since 1984 and Vice President of the Chinese Federation,
Professor Ma applies his incisive intellect and his
scientific skills to his work, a practise that is much
appreciated by Players and Administrators alike.
This is the first time that the FIVB has honoured its
members with the Silver Cross Award.
Kiribati Granted Full Membership
Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sept 21, 2002 – The nation of
Kiribati was on Saturday granted full membership of the
Federation International Volleyball Federation in the
opening session fo the 28th FIVB World Congress.
In the same session, Montserrat, the island state that
was devastated by a volcano eruption several years ago
was withdrawn because of last of activity. Kiribati thus
becomes the 217th member country of the Federation, one
of the biggest sporting federations in the world.
FIVB General Manager Jean-Pierre Seppey welcomed
Kiribati, whose delegates were present at the opening
session, to the International Volleyball Family. At the
same time he assured Montserrat that “the doors remain
open” should the situation change in that country.
The FIVB, with its five Continental Confederations and
217 affiliated National Federations, is one of the world’s
biggest international sports federations
Opening session
in the Presence of distinguished guests
Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sept 21, 2002 – The 28th World
Congress of the Federation International de Volleyball (FIVB)
opened on Saturday in the Argentina capital to herald
the beginning of three days of policy and decision-making
with the delegates of its five Continental
confederations and 217 National Federations.
President Dr. Ruben Acosta welcomed distinguished guests
including the Argentine Secretary of State for Sports
and Tourism, Mr. Daniel Scioli, Mr. Adolf Ogi, former
President of the Swiss Federation and Special Advisor to
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on Matters
of Sport for Peace, Mr. Antonio Rodriguez, President of
the Argentina Olympic Committee, Mr. Juan Jose Alvarez,
Argentina’s Minister of Justice and Mr. Anibal Ibarra,
Mayor of Buenos Aires.
“After 20 years it is an honor for us to host the FIVB
Congress and the World Championship,” said State
Secretary Scioli. “Sport for us in Argentina is the same
as culture and we hope that this Congress will show the
world argentine hospitality.”
The 2002 Men’s World Championship will be held in six
cities in Argentina (Sept 28-Oct. 13).
President Acosta, who has held this office at the FIVB
since 1984, addressed the Congress in the opening
session, presenting a detailed report of the activities
of the Federation and its finances.
“We are now harvesting the positive results of our long-term
collective efforts of a successfully implemented
financial strategy,” Dr. Acosta said, pledging to
continue to reinvest the financial resources of the
Federation back into the sport of volleyball in keeping
with the policy to bring the sport to as many people
throughout the world.
The World Congress continues in Buenos Aires until
Monday, when General Elections with also be held.
FIVB and Mikasa extend their long-term partnership
Buenos Aires, Argentina,
Sept. 20, 2002 - The Federation International de
Volleyball on Friday signed a major agreement with their
long-term partners and suppliers, the Japanese ball
manufacturers, Mikasa. The partnership has now been
extended up to an including the 2008 Olympic Games in
Beijing
Mikasa is the FIVB’s official game ball and is used at
all of their major international competitions. The
company employs high-tech
research in order to remain on the cutting edge of
technology in this field. The Japanese company has been
a staunch supporter of the FIVB since 1978.
“We are very happy to finalise this extension to our
long-term partnership with Mikasa. They have been our
friends and supporters for many years,” said FIVB
President Dr. Rubén Acosta.
The President of Mikasa, Mr. Fumitoshi Teramoto,
underlined that his company was also pleased to extend
the partnership.
“”I am very happy with the development of volleyball and
beach volleyball throughout the world, and to continue
our relationship with the FIVB to 2008 and beyond,” Mr.
Fumitoshi said.
The signing of the agreement took place here in Buenos
Aires on the eve of the 28th FIVB World Congress,
between Dr. Acosta and Mr. Teramoto, in the presence of
Mrs. Teramoto, Mrs. Malu Acosta, senior officials of
Mikasa and members of the FIVB Executive.
Argentina’s
Secretary of State for Tourism and Sport to open FIVB
World Congress |
Buenos Aires, September 20, 2002 - Daniel Scioli,
Secretary of State for Tourism and Sport in the
Argentinean government, will officially open the 28th
FIVB World Congress on Saturday in Buenos Aires.
Mr Scioli, a former world champion in offshore motorboat
racing, will speak on behalf of President Eduardo
Duhalde. The Argentine president was unable to attend
the opening ceremony of the three-day congress because
of a heavy work schedule.
More than 200 delegates from most of the 217 affiliated
countries to the FIVB have registered for the Congress,
which will probably set a world record for participation
in an international sport institution, according to FIVB
President Dr Ruben Acosta.
The FIVB was founded in 1947 and has it’s headquarters
in Lausanne, Switzerland. Argentina is playing host to
both the 28th World Congress and the Men’s World
Championship (Sept 28-Oct 13)FIVB 28TH
World Congress to be biggest ever
Buenos Aires, Argentina -
Sept 19, 2002 - Just
one week before the opening of the 28th International
Federation de Volleyball’s World Congress, registration
figures indicate that this will be the biggest yet in
the 55-years history of the Federation. Of the FIVB’’s
217 affiliated National Federations, 200 will be
represented, either directly or by proxy by some 220
delegates. And with registrations still arriving, the
final number could be even greater.
This Congress, where the International Volleyball Family
will take stock of past activities and to introduce a
long-term plan for the future, is the most important
event in the 2002 calendar for this, one of the biggest
sports federations in the world.
The Congress last came to Argentina in 1982 and returns
on the eve of the 2002 Men s World Championship to be
hosted in six Argentine cities and must take, within the
framework of it s democratic structure, many important
decisions. Some of the matters that will be addressed
include amendments to the FIVB Code of Conduct, a
document that has already drawn praise from the IOC, and
introducing “”Vision 2008 - an ambitious program that
maps out a future for the development of Volleyball, in
all its forms, across the globe in the coming years.
During the packed, three-day program, the sport of
Volleyball, and it's influence throughout the world will
be aired, debated, reported on and planned for, in front
of the attending international delegates. The program
draws to a close on the final day with elections - for
the FIVB President (2002-2006) and Members of the Board
of Administration for the same period.
Dr. Rubin Acosta, who took over from the founding
President Paul Libaud in 1984, has agreed to stand again
for the position of President. However as the sole
candidate, he has refused to be appointed by acclamation,
insisting that all delegates have the right to cast
their vote by secret ballot.
A Press Conference will be held at 1230 on the final day,
Sept 23, at the Congress venue, (Hotel Sheraton, Buenos
Aires), immediately following the General Elections.
Volleyball
and Beach Volleyball among most watched sports
on TV at Sydney Olympics
Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 19, 2002 –
Volleyball and beach
volleyball enjoyed one of the highest TV world audiences
during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, according to
recently announced results of a survey by a pool of TV
Olympic rights holders.
This previously unpublished data was used for the first
time recently when the International Olympic Committee
opened the way for a modification of the content of the
Olympic program for the 2008 Games in Beijing.
The survey places volleyball and beach volleyball in
fifth place out of the 28 sports on the Olympic program.
This confirms the fast growing success of the two FIVB
disciplines and their tremendous impact on the public.
Volleyball and beach volleyball finished with the
narrowest margin (just three hours difference) behind
fourth-placed basketball. The leading three individual
sports were athletics, swimming and gymnastics.
World TV coverage (in number of hours) during the Sydney
Games:
Athletics 794 hours, swimming 643, gymnastics 363,
basketball 334, volleyball 331, cycling 255, football
242, tennis 206, equestrian 199, boxing 144, rowing 141,
field hockey 108, canoe-kayak 107, handball 88, judo 87,
wrestling 85, weightlifting 84, baseball 78, fencing 58,
triathlon 58, sailing 45, softball 45, table tennis 44,
shooting 36, taekwondo 33, badminton 30, archery 14,
modern pentathlon 3.
With FIVB’s two Olympic sports currently enjoying a boom
in popularity, media coverage and television audiences
at other major international events, it is expected that
the television figures at the Athens 2004 Olympics will
be even more favourable for the FIVB.
The international “Volleybal Family” including FIVB
President Dr. Rubén Acosta, are presently in the
Argentine capital for the 28th World Congress of the
federation.
Founded in 1947, the FIVB, with its five Continental
Confederations and 217 affiliated National Federations
is one of the biggest international sports federations
in the world.
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