World Congress   FIVB issues special document reviewing its long-term investment in sport Porto, Portugal, May 11, 2004 – The FIVB has prepared a special report “Sports Money for Sport”, which demonstrates how the FIVB has developed into one of the most successful international sports federations through a professional approach to sports administration and a policy of investing over 80% of the funds it raises directly into developing Volleyball and Beach Volleyball. The report includes contributions from outside experts and has been prepared for all delegates accredited to the Congress. It gives facts and figures about income and expenditure on sports activities over the last 20 years and explains the FIVB’s long-standing policy of paying commissions of up to 10% to those of its members (not paid officials) who successfully find and negotiate new sources of finance for Volleyball and Beach Volleyball. Introducing the report, FIVB President Dr Ruben Acosta writes: “In the 20 years since I was first elected President, the FIVB has spent more than CHF 400 million on sports activities, and has now become one of the world’s top international federations, with 35 million registered players, 218 national federations and a fortune in excess of CHF 120 million.” Reviewing the federation’s financial strength, FIVB General Manager Mr. Jean-Pierre Seppey writes: “The FIVB’s strategy is to invest its income in expanding its competition worldwide through media and television exposure.” He explains that the FIVB has agreed a budget of CHF 169.6 million for the period 2003 – 6, of which CHF 153.4 million (90%) is earmarked for sports. The report also contains an article by Professor Jean-Loup Chappelet of the Swiss Graduate School of Administration (IDHEAP) on international sports federation funding in which he comments that the FIVB is one of the IFs that spends the most money on developing its sport: “Many Olympic IFs have no other resources than the IOC payments and neither do they have development programs for their sports. They spend 100% of the money they receive from the IOC on administrative costs, salaries, and other forms of compensation,” he writes. “The FIVB, on the other hand, has its own revenues that far exceed the funds it receives every four years from the IOC, even during Olympic year 2000,” Professor Chappelet adds. “Moreover, numerous IFs use agents to negotiate broadcasting rights (with television stations) or marketing rights (with sponsors). These agents (individuals or companies) are often paid by commission on the contracts signed.” The report is in three languages English, French and Spanish.