Serving up the World's Best Volleyball
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
OFFICIAL MAGAZINE / #02 / 2014 SERVING UP THE WORLD’S BEST VOLLEYBALL THINK Feel EN_SMDIESEL_BRAND PRACTICALITY_297x210_FIVB_HONDA.indd 1 24/06/2013 15:06 EDITORIAL 1 Cover photo Olympic sport, and a valuable partner and resource for With the growth of volleyball, the year the entire Olympic Movement. It was important for me 2014 has plenty of events worldwide for volleyball players to participate in to be able to give the FIVB a clear voice at this crucial time in the development of the Olympic Movement. Publication Management The 126th IOC Session held in Sochi also gave a great and Editorial Committee insight into what the future holds for volleyball. It has Fédération Internationale been clear that we are about to embark on a period de Volleyball Château Les Tourelles of significant change. The FIVB is fully committed to Edouard-Sandoz 2-4, the Olympic Agenda 2020 and we are keen to use 1006 Lausanne, Switzerland the experience we have gained and successes we Tel. 0041-21-3453535 FIVB President: Dr. Ary S. Graça F° have achieved to help the IOC in the challenges and Fax 0041-21-3453545 opportunities that lie ahead, especially with Rio 2016 www.fivb.org Volleyball can learn plenty from the Winter Olympic on the horizon where volleyball and especially beach Press Department Director Richard Baker Games experience. The success of the Sochi Olympic volleyball, will be signature events. Games can be an example for many events and Editorial organising committees in the future, especially for The vision for volleyball is clear - to be a modern and Jeremy Inson volleyball. innovative sport which is popular for all sports fans of all ages around the world. By constantly innovating and Design and Layout amethys.ch The IOC and the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee embracing the very latest sports industry technology were steadfast in their objectives and achieved we will expand the boundaries of sports entertainment Translation unbridled success. I was pleased to be able to be in and provide a true spectacle for all spectators. The Libero Language Lab Sochi to witness first-hand how the event was run so fundamental objective is to deliver a sport which www.liberos.com efficiently and to the satisfaction of those who are most inspires and motivates young people to participate in Reproduction important to us in the sporting industry – the athletes. sport and stimulate social change, and all 220 FIVB Reproduction of any article member federations have a lead role in making sure or part of the magazine My presence in Sochi is part of the FIVB’s strategy to volleyball can play its part. The recently launched is authorised, providing that attend as many Olympic events as possible in 2014 with corporate social responsibility programme which will the source is explicitly cited the aim to represent the sport globally and to promote allow volleyball to open doors to new countries in volleyball not just as a summer sport, but as a core Africa and Asia is certainly a step in that direction. Contributions Typed articles are accepted in the following languages: # French, English CONTENT / VOLLEYWORLD / 02 / 2014 Email: [email protected] Photographs 2 6 10 FIVB Archives BIG PICTURE COVER STORY FEATURE VolleyWorld is available Beach volleyball Glory galore on offer Beach volleyball 2014 - takes Winter Olympic in trophy heavy bigger and better to download in English, French, 2 Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Games by storm volleyball season than even before Russian and Chinese at www.fivb.org 2 The views expressed in 14 16 20 VolleyWorld are not necessarily IN FOCUS PROFILE CONFEDERATIONS those of the FIVB or its Officials. 22 AVC 23 CAVB The content of this publication President’s presence Italian league rebuilds 2in Sochi breaks new as new playing 23 CEV 24 CSV is based on the best information boundaries frontiers emerge 24 NORCECA available at the time the articles were written. 2 BIG PICTURE 3 – Beach volleyball takes Winter Olympic Games by storm The FIVB and volleyball was a huge hit at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Svetlana Zhurova, Olympic champion in speed skating at Torino 2006, tried out the purpose built indoor beach volleyball venue in Sochi 4 COVER STORY – Glory galore on offer in trophy heavy volleyball season The volleyball world’s top teams have their eyes fixed firmly on success at the FIVB Volleyball Men’s and Women’s World Championships, but there are also a number of tournaments offering further chances of success in 2014. VolleyWorld looks forward to a year in which there are plenty of chances for teams to taste glory on the court. USA’s star blocker Destinee Hooker will be returning to FIVB international competition this year following the birth of her first child 5 6 COVER STORY Olympic champions and 2013 World League title holders Russia, will face more competition than ever this year as the World League expands to 28 countries The FIVB Volleyball World League and FIVB Volleyball World Grand Russia themselves are looking for their fourth World League crown Prix continue as the leading annual volleyball tournaments for men and third in four years while Italy have to look back to 2000 when and women respectively and once again they will be tightly fought- they claimed the last of their eight titles. over competitions. For the men the World League action gets underway with the start of the Intercontinental Round on May 23, which goes through to July 6, before three Finals - one for each of the Intercontinental Round Five days after the men Groups - will take place for the first time in World League history. For the second successive year the size of the tournament has grown, wrap up the World League; from 18 teams to 28 as the depth of the sides competing continues the World Grand Prix will to rise. commence and run through Florence will be the fourth Italian city to host a World League Finals to the Finals on August 24. following Rome in 2004, Milan in 1998, 1994 and 1991 and Genoa in 1992, when the renaissance city hosts the final round from July 16-20. Brazil, China and Serbia occupied the gold, silver and bronze medal Last year Olympic champions Russia led the way to win gold, while positions in 2013 and they too will face greater competition this year Brazil and Italy repeated their London 2012 performances by claiming after the World Grand Prix was also expanded from 18 to 28 teams. silver and bronze. The Italians will be in determined mood to improve on their third-place finish in front of their home fans in Florence, The South Americans go into the tournament knowing that if they while Brazil will want to put their devastating 3-0 loss to Russia in repeat their gold medal success, then they will have made it to a 2013 behind them as they search for a record 10th title. mightily impressive 10 victories in World Grand Prix history. 7 8 COVER STORY 9 The USA’s star blocker Destinee Hooker will return to FIVB international Sada Cruzeiro will be back to defend their Men’s Club World competition at the World Grand Prix following the birth of her first Championship gold medals and they will be roared on by 7,000 child. Having her back on the court will provide a huge boost to a spectators in the Multisport Fitness Divine Braga in the southern team that missed out on the podium in 2013 and that will be out Brazilian city, Betim. for their sixth gold medal-winning performance, following three consecutive golds from 2010 until 2012. With eight teams in action, the tournament takes place from May 6 to 11 and Sada Cruzeiro will be pushed hard by Argentina’s Before they start though, there will be a number of clubs eyeing glory UPCN, the team the Brazilians defeated in the South American Club in the FIVB Volleyball Club World Championships. Championship. The women’s tournament, featuring six teams, runs from May 7 to There will be plenty of teams chasing an elusive medal, a place on 11 and one particular team will be out for gold medal glory in Zurich. the podium and the chance to hear their national anthem in 2014, Volero Zurich are one of two teams to have already qualified and they each with their own motivation for winning. It will mean plenty of will aim to repeat the success of 2013 winners VakifBank Istanbul by excitement before then though as the FIVB’s competitions bring out occupying the gold medal position in front their home fans in the the best in players and teams from all around the world. 2,300-capacity Saalsporthale. FIVB VOLLEYBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEWS AVAILABLE IN VOLLEYWORLD EDITIONS VOLLEYWORLD 1 VOLLEYWORLD 3 (available shortly) Brazil’s city of Betim gets set to host the FIVB Men’s Club World Following their success in the tournament last year, Brazil’s women are Championship once again this year hoping that 2014 will take them to a record tenth World Grand Prix title 10 FEATURE Beach volleyball 2014 Three time Olympic champion Kerri Walsh (left) hopes to continue her career successes with new partner April Ross in the 2014 beach volleyball season 11 Beach Bigger volleyball and better than even 2014 before It may be only a matter of months ago that the Durban Open brought the 2013 beach volleyball season to a close, but already teams are well into their preparations for the 2014 beach volleyball season. With a record number of events and record prize money the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour will once again be at the heart of the beach volleyball season in 2014 and VolleyWorld looks forward to what excitement lies ahead in the FIVB’s flagship competition, as well as the four age-group World Championships.