FIVB History

The FIVB History

The founding
The first serious activity aimed at the founding of the FIVB was an informal meeting held at the Graf Coffee House (now called Krivan) in Prague between representatives of the Polish, French, and Czech Volleyball Federations, followed by a more formal meeting in the council chambers of the Smichov brewery. The Czechoslovak delegation was headed by Mr. Havel, President of the Federation, and composed of Messrs. Cebalka, Stolc, Pulkrat, Koutsky, and Spirit. The French delegation was led by Paul Libaud, the newly elected President of the Federation, and included Messrs. Aujard and Babin. The Polish delegation included Mr. Wirszyllo, President of the Polish Federation, and his colleague Mr. Szeremeta.

This meeting started by the reading of written declarations of support which had been sent by the Federations of Italy, Yugoslavia, Romania, and Belgium. It then proceeded to establish the so-called "autonomous Volleyball commission" composed of the following members: Mr. Wirszyllo of Poland, president; Mr. Libaud, vice-president; and Mr. Cebalka of Czechoslovakia, general secretary, together with a representative each from the Soviet Union, USA, and Romania. The assistant to the general secretary was Mr. Castellant of France. The main aim of this commission was to lay the foundations of an international Volleyball federation, together with other tasks detailed in the minutes of this historical meeting, such as to give as much publicity as possible to Volleyball in all countries, to create a unified set of rules of the game using as its basis the American rules, the organization of championships (European and World Championships) in Prague, the inclusion of Volleyball into the program of the Olympic Games and the convening of a Constitutive Congress in Paris to be held in 1947.

The organization of this first Constitutive Congress was entrusted to Mr. Libaud, President of the French Volleyball Federation. It took place in Paris from April 18 to 20, 1947, in the splendid rooms of the Grand Hotel with the participation of 14 National Federations, some of which had been delegated to act for other Federations as well.

The FIVB was born! Indeed, it is certain that a decisive moment in the fascinating history of Volleyball's first 100 years was the founding of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball when the representatives of Belgium, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, France, Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Uruguay, USA and Yugoslavia met in Paris. Libaud was elected first President of the FIVB. The headquarters were established in Paris, where they remained for the first 37 years until 1984.

The beginning of World Championships
The first World Championships were organized 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 in 1996, at the Atlanta Games, Beach Volleyball, one of the world's fastest-growing sports, made its Olympic debut as Volleyball's successful second discipline.

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. Acosta succeeds President Paul Libaud
The big turning point 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 from Paris to Lausanne
The FIVB moved its headquarters to Lausanne, Switzerland, also in 1984, bringing it closer to the International Olympic Committee. Permanent and modern structures were developed permitting constant and direct contact with the whole world of Volleyball at the new offices situated in the centre of this Olympic City. Very soon, Dr. Rubén Acosta became Volleyball's ambassador, promoting the sport in worldwide competitions held in the five continents (Asia, Africa, Europe, South America and Norceca). The rapid development of the sport necessitated a larger FIVB staff to run the FIVB's administration to govern its affiliated members and to promote the sport, from a free-time game to a great entertainment spectacle.

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.

Beach Volleyball as an Olympic sport
Beach Volleyball was accepted as an official discipline at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996. This was the result of a carefully drafted marketing diversification plan started with events organisation and publication of brochures, videos and other efforts made by the President and the FIVB aimed at convincing sceptical IOC members (at the beginning) that this spectacular sport deserved Olympic status. The IOC conceded in Monte Carlo in 1994 and Beach Volleyball's first Olympic medals were disputed in Atlanta after enormously successful men's and women's competitions held in Clayton County in front of youthful and enthusiastic crowds.

World plans and visions
A series of plans have been prepared since the early 1990s with the goal of countering administrative and managerial shortcomings in most of the National Federations and to turn Volleyball and Beach Volleyball into major sports at world, continental and national level in each one of the 220 affiliated National Federations. The World Plan 2001's goals were achieved on a global level by the majority of the 140 participating National Federations grouped into five categories during the period 1995-2001, particularly in regard to the following:

- To make Volleyball and Beach Volleyball major sports at world, continental and national level.
- To make the two sports top sports for spectators.
- To make the most important national, continental and world Beach Volleyball and Volleyball competitions into media events.
- To increase the number of countries able to play at the top level, presenting more competitive, spectacular and attractive Volleyball and Beach Volleyball competitions.

The main goal pursued in subsequent visions has been to make each National Federation and Confederation the most professional organisation in the short term, with each one at its own level, with modern, flexible and efficient administration under professional management.

Today and tomorrow
In 2008, 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 FIVB World Championships, FIVB World League, FIVB World Grand Prix, SWATCH FIVB World Tour, FIVB World Cup, FIVB Grand Champions Cup, FIVB Junior and Youth tournaments and, of course, the Olympics. In the words of now Honorary President Dr. Rubén Acosta, the FIVB has entered the third phase of its life with the election of Jizhong Wei as President, after 24 years of continuous improvement under Dr. Acosta and the 37 years of leadership from President Paul Libaud. The crowning achievement after 24 years of peerless leadership from Dr. Acosta was in realising his dream of creating a fitting home for Volleyball's future generations. The result of his endeavour was the creation of "Château Les Tourelles", FIVB's stunning headquarters on the banks of Lake Geneva in Lausanne, Switzerland.