No 123 February 2004 English edition FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE VOLLEYBALL Countdown to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens With only six months to go until the beginning of the largest sports event of our era, the preparation for the Volleyball teams already qualified for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece is in full swing. Major news to come out of the post Christmas period has been the appoint- ment of a new women’s coach in Greece The Peace and Friendship Stadium, will play host to Volleyball at the with Giannis (John) Nikolakis returning 2004 Olympic Games on the coast of Faliro, Athens to the national team after six years since his first stint. He will replace Takis Floros when his one-year contract starts on ning the NORCECA Olympic Qualifying Tom all play in Italy, while Keba Phipps is April 1. Tournament on Jan. 10. These nine in Brazil. players will be practicing at the United Nickolakis, who at 39 is considered one of States Olympic Training Center in Meanwhile, Chinese women’s head the best coaches in Greece, was in charge Colorado Springs: Scott Bunker, Tom coach Chen Zhonghe announced last of the national women’s team from 1994 Hoff, Adam Naeve, Vernon Podlewski, month that his team will contest the 2004 to 1997, when he recorded 41 victories in Jim Polster, Reid Priddy, Chris Seiffert, World Grand Prix and the Athens 62 games. More recently he has been Curt Toppel and Mac Wilson. Olympic Games with the same lineup Stelios Prosalikas’ collaborator with the from the victorious 2003 FIVB World Cup men’s national team. Meanwhile, Beal’s counterpart Toshi in Japan. Yoshida has started putting his women’s Meanwhile, team preparation has started team through their paces with the On the announcement of his 18-member in earnest for World Cup women’s cham- Olympics in mind. squad, Chen also declared his team has pions China and both the men’s and began a three-month intensive training women’s teams from USA. With a ticket to Athens safely secured program, showing that the Chinese team thanks to a bronze-medal finish at last is moving into top gear to prepare for the Following a well deserved break, some of year’s World Cup, Yoshida has called in Olympic Games. the USA men’s Volleyball team have four new players – Cynthia Barboza, begun Olympic preparations. More than Nicole Davis, Jennifer Joines and Ogonna The 18 players are: Wing Spikers: Yang half of the players on the national team Nnamani – into his squad to join three- Hao, Zhang Yuehong, Chu Jinling and roster play professionally overseas with time Olympian (1992, 1996 and 2000) Tara Wang Yimei, Wang Lina, Yang Shuang. Lloy Ball, Ryan Millar and Kevin Barnett Cross-Battle and 2000 Olympians Robyn Middle Blockers: Liu Yanan, Zhao Ruirui, all playing in Italy, Clay Stanley and Dave Ah Mow-Santos and Sarah Noriega in the Zhang Ping, Chen Jing, Zhao Jing. Oppo- McKienzie in Greece, Riley Salmon and squad, which also includes: Wiz Bach- sites: Zhau Suhong, Li Shan, Wang Ting. Erik Sullivan in Russia, Brook Billings in man, Lindsey Berg, Greichaly Cepero- Setters: Feng Kun, Song Nina. Libero: Japan, Gabe Gardner in Brazil, Rich Lam- Febres, Sarah Drury, Tayyiba Haneef, Zhang Na, Li Yan. bourne in the Netherlands and Donald Brittany Hochevar, Tracy Stalls and Suxho in Turkey. Elisha Thomas. www.fivb.org/ But head coach Doug Beal still has nine The remainder of the national team plays For more news and updates visit players, who have been on a break since overseas. Heather Bown, Nancy Metcalf, our website at: www.fivb.org USA qualified for the Olympics by win- Danielle Scott, Stacy Sykora and Logan Find out more at www.fivb.org VOLLEYBALL Japan public TV visits FIVB NEW TECHNICAL COORDINATOR APPOINTED The FIVB General Manager Mr. Jean- Pierre Seppey was pleased to host on behalf of the FIVB President Dr. Rubén Acosta the Japanese public television station Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK) at the FIVB headquarters in Lausanne at the start of February. NHK, the number one television company in Japan, took footage of the FIVB and its staff and interviewed Mr. Seppey as part of their material for a 75 minute programme on “The Olympic Games and television”. For many years the Olympic Games and television have evolved into a seamless relationship, which enables all the anima- tion, thrills and excitement of sport to be seen right around the world. As part of the programme NHK is look- ing at the history of the Olympic Games, speaking to International Federations and IOC president Dr. Jacques Rogge to illustrate the work that goes on behind the scenes in the build up to Athens 2004. The programme is set to be shown on March 22 at 19:30 on NHK channel 1. New FIVB Technical Coordinator Mr. Helgi Thorsteinsson gives Iceland Minister of Sports and Education Mr. Tómas Ingi Olrich, a former Volleyball player himself, an FIVB award recognizing the strong relationship with Iceland in December. The FIVB is pleased to announce the “Mr. Thorsteinsson brings with him into appointment of Mr. Helgi Thorsteinsson his new role all the attributes of loyalty as FIVB Technical Coordinator, where he and trust strongly developed in Iceland,” will take on the general responsibility for FIVB General Manager Mr. Jean-Pierre all matters concerning technical, medical, Seppey said. “His experience in Institu- coaching, refereeing and development as tional Management and in Volleyball in well as Rules of the Game, Sports Aid general are key ingredients to his contin- Programmes and Volleyball World Vision ued success with the FIVB.” 2012. Thorsteinsson, who now lives in Lau- Thorsteinsson, 41, from Iceland, started sanne with his wife and two children, has The FIVB General Manager, with the FIVB in September 2003, being a strong background in Volleyball having Mr. Jean-Pierre Seppey with the responsible for Volleyball World Vision involved himself in the daily operations Japanese public television station 2012, technical matters and the homolo- of Volleyball over the past 20 years. Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK) gation of sports material but will now undertake an expanded role in one of the While playing division Volleyball in most important areas of the FIVB. Iceland from 1984 to 2003, he became a well known figure through activities in All Contributions Welcome! “As the sport of Volleyball continues to European Volleyball. He has also been Please send us your comments and grow the demands of the FIVB are the Secretary General for the Icelandic articles to: increasing all the time, so Mr. Thorsteins- Volleyball Federation for 10 years and son will be a crucial asset to an already served as a member of the Icelandic [email protected] dedicated team,” FIVB President Dr. National Olympic Committee, represent- or by mail to: Rubén Acosta said. ing Volleyball. International Volleyball Federation www.fivb.org/ Avenue de la Gare 12 1001 Lausanne Visit our website at www.fivb.org to: Switzerland • Download the Roll of Honour for all Volleyball competitions • Register to receive all FIVB Press Releases Tel : +41 (21) 345 35 35 Fax: +41 (21) 345 35 45 • Read the latest FIVB News and much much more... 2 FIVB X-Press No 123 February 2004 BEACH VOLLEYBALL a men’s team who will qualify for the Olympics, with an eye on Beijing in 2008. BEACH VOLLEYBALL NEWS With such an encouraging infrastructure the Bulgarian Federation hope to make Varna the capital of Beach Volleyball in Cracking showdown in store in Bulgaria explores the Balkans. country vs country play off Beach Volleyball opportunities “The basic facilities are there and with The Bulgarian Volleyball Federation was promoters, television support and spon- pleased to welcome the FIVB Beach sors all expressing their interest, there is Volleyball coordinator Mr. Angelo Squeo the platform to make a success of it,” Mr. in February as they explored the possibil- Squeo said. ity of increasing their presence in Beach Volleyball. The first step into the Beach Volleyball arena for the Bulgarian Federation could With such a strong history in Volleyball be in September when Bulgaria aims to the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation has host an FIVB Challenger event in Varna. recognized an opportunity to capitalize on the popularity of the sport and pre- SWATCH and FIVB announce sented to Mr. Squeo their proposal to the new visual for the SWATCH- launch a “Copacabana-like” project on FIVB World Tour 2004 the Golden Sands beaches near Varna, Albena and Varna city on the Black Sea. Such a project includes the provision of numerous Beach Volleyball courts sprin- kled along the action packed beaches and a proposed Challenger event in Varna. “We are committed to host a $30,000 32- Emanuel & Ricardo claimed gold at the team Men’s Challenger event most likely 2003 World Championship in September,” said Bulgarian Volleyball Federation vice-president Dr. Mitko Kirilov Ivanov. “We have the human Two of Beach Volleyball’s super powers resources and the infrastructure to make Brazil and USA face off during February this a real success”. in a country v country playoff in what is expected to be a sensational showpiece of the sport on Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazil’s King of the Beach team Ricardo and Emanuel (2003 world champions and Swatch-FIVB World Tour ranking winners) will play USA’s Dain Blanton (2000 Olympic champion) and Jeff Nygaard in one match. SWATCH and the FIVB are pleased to The women’s showdown will see Brazil’s introduce the new visual for the Gerusa da Costa Ferreira and Vanilda dos SWATCH-FIVB World Tour 2004.