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VNL Council finalises preparations for second edition of the VNL

Lausanne, Switzerland, April 6, 2019 – FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graça F° chaired the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Council meeting, during which organisers finalised preparations for the event which is scheduled to begin at the end of May.

The first edition of the highly successful VNL revolutionised the world of volleyball, showcasing the sport like never before. The format sees 16 of the world’s best volleyball nations go head-to-head in a round robin format, battling to become Volleyball Nations League champion. The 2019 Men’s Finals will take place in Chicago, the USA, while the Women’s Finals will be played in Nanjing, China.

The FIVB has continued to enhance its TV production and distribution of the event, ensuring a consistent “look and feel”. Prize money for the winners of the women’s and men’s event is equal, reinforcing the FIVB’s commitment to gender equality. The FIVB has also made a decision to offer prize money during the round robin phase. In total, the prize fund amounts to more than 7 million USD.

The VNL Council discussed a number of important topics, including the event’s financial statement and business model, VNL branding, promotional and commercial elements, content production and distribution. The next edition of VNL is going to focus on communication via digital platforms and social media, to ensure more content is available for the fans to enjoy.

The VNL Council met in Lausanne on Wednesday

The VNL Council also spent time addressing topics raised by the athletes as the FIVB aims to ensure their interests are well-represented. Last month the FIVB held meetings in Istanbul and Bologna with some of women’s and men’s volleyball players and, following these constructive conversations, suggested proposals which have now been approved:

•   To make the team registration process more flexible for VNL 2019
•   To implement a well-defined rest period after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
•   To optimise the VNL 2020 hosts allocation and match schedule as well as team travels using the algorithmic technology provided by KPMG (already hired)
•   To study the improvements to the volleyball calendar from 2021 onwards
•   For the FIVB Medical Commission to prepare recommendations on athlete rest

As a direct outcome, a working group has been created to further study the VNL calendar and its competition format.

After the meeting, the FIVB President said:

“We had a number of very important discussions today that will shape the future of volleyball and the VNL. I am very proud that the VNL Council chose to support the proposals put forward following the meetings with the VNL athletes. At the FIVB we want to ensure that the athletes’ voice is heard, as they are at the very heart of our sport. Alongside the FIVB Athletes’ Commission, we will continue to work for their benefit.”

The VNL Council also praised the Good Net Project, a sustainability initiative developed by the FIVB in partnership with the NGO, Ghost Fishing, to recover discarded fishing nets from the world’s oceans. Many of the nets will be recycled into volleyball nets for local community use around the world, raising awareness of plastic pollution and highlighting the important role sport can play to protect its natural sports arenas.

To find out more and to donate to the Good Net Project, please click here.

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