No 113 April 2003 English edition FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE VOLLEYBALL Thumbs up for Olympic Volleyball venues! an average of 35-36 degrees in the sun, so for the players it will be hard to play dur- ing the day. " Other new initiatives will be the addition of two beach volleyball courts open to the public, alternate men's and women's matches as opposed to single-gender ses- sions and an area for sponsor's stands, which will border the eight training courts. Olympic Beach Volleyball numbers: Capacity of the Olympic Beach Volley- ball Centre: 10,000 seats, (4,300 perma- nent, 800 under cover) Number of courts: 11 (8 training courts, 1 main arena and 2 courts for spectators) Total number of teams: 24 men and 24 women. The new 2004 Olympic venue in Athens will be completed within the next five months Total number of athletes: 48 men and 48 women. Total number of matches: 104, compris- Mr. Franz Schmied and Mr Angelo And for Beach Volleyball, the Athens ing of 52 men's and 52 women's matches. Squeo, the respective Fédération Interna- Olympic Committee is completing a Travel time from Olympic Village: 35 tionale de Volleyball (FIVB) delegate and new 10,000-seat stadium, built in the minutes in special motorway lane. Coordinator for Volleyball and Beach style of a traditional Greek amphithe- Weather in August: Mean daily Volleyball, both completed an inspection atre. The venue is due to be completed in max/min temperature: 33.20 C / 20.70 C visit of the 2004 Olympic venue in Athens time for a FIVB's men Challenger event Burn time: Between 11:00-17:00 last month and have came away suitably on August 19-24 this year, when all the impressed. facilities will be tested. See page 3 for Indoor Volleyball The two FIVB Coordinators went to numbers......... check on the progress made with the "It's going to be a fantastic development of the facilities and the venue, in a great location and specifics of the venues, both located Beach Volleyball will be one of 10km away from the Olympic Village on the hottest places to be during the port of Faliro. the Olympic Games." said Angelo Squeo, (FIVB) Beach Volleyball "The visit was a great opportunity to check the status of many areas of the Coordinator. organization and to make decisions on pending matters and I'm pleased to say things are progressing very well," said The improvements on Sydney 2000 Angelo Squeo, FIVB Beach Volleyball Beach Volleyball competition, itself a Coordinator. memorable beach volleyball success, include two giant video walls providing FIVB and ATHOC Inspection team live feeds and night sessions, which will The 18-year-old indoor venue, the Peace include the final being played under and Friendship Stadium was voted the lights. "best and most beautiful European www.fivb.org/ indoor sports arena" in 1991 by a group of "That will make the playing standard a architects but it's installations are cur- lot better and create more of an on court For full calendar details (and much more rently being upgraded - due to be com- spectacle," Mr Squeo said. "The weather volleyball news) go to www.fivb.org pleted in June this year - to match what is will be an issue considering August has the vibrant image of Volleyball. Find out more at www.fivb.org VOLLEYBALL USA Volleyball Mourns Loss Of FIVB MOURNS THE LOSS OF PROFESSOR QI-WEI-MA Richard "Cappy" Caplan COLORADO SPRINGS, the Game Commission Sandy Steel said. Colo. - The volleyball "He had a lot of courage, both physical world lost a legend when and moral and he was fundamentally Richard "Cappy" Caplan, strong. International volleyball over the who played in an amaz- last 50 years has made radical changes, all ing 52-straight national thanks to Professor Ma. Changes includ- open championships, ing the rally points, net service and the suffered a fatal heart new libero position were all results of attack on March 11 on the way to his Professor Ma's hard and earnest work. weekly bowling league in his hometown of Skokie Illinois. He was 90. "The game has moved forward and it's more interesting and understandable. He "I've known Cappy for a long time…he Professor Qi-Wei-Ma with the Acostas was a superb friend, always very digni- was one of the sweetest, most positive in 1984 fied and always willing to listen. His door people you would ever want to meet," It was with great sadness that the FIVB was always open. USA men's head coach Doug Beal said. learnt of the death last month of a great "He typifies the spirit of volleyball. We figure in Volleyball, Professor Qi-Wei Ma would have loved to have hundreds of China, after a long-term illness. Profes- more like Dick Caplan." sor Ma, 82, passed away on March 19 after receiving emergency hospital treat- In 1990, at the age of 77, Caplan retired ment in his home country of China and he from active play following his 52nd con- will be remembered for his huge contri- secutive United States Volleyball bution to the FIVB and the sport of Vol- National Championship. leyball. He began his incredible run in 1937 play- This was recognized at the FIVB World ing for the Lawson YMCA in Chicago Professor Qi- Wei-Ma at an award and throughout his career the honors Congress in 2002 when he was awarded ceremony the FIVB Silver flowed. He was named a USVBA Open Cross but he will Division All-American in 1941, 1942, also be remembered "His catch phrase was "don't worry, be and 1947 and a USVBA Senior All- as a distinguished happy" and he always said it with a American in 1961 and 1969. and dedicated man smile." whose work for the "Cappy was one of the great amateurs, FIVB, particularly in Professor Ma worked tirelessly over a one who played the game for the love of his role as President period of 18 years, serving on the Rules of the competition," USA Volleyball Presi- of the Rules of the the Game Commission. He is also cred- dent Al Monaco said. Game Commission, ited with bringing six-a-side Volleyball will remain as an enduring long-term to China. Professor Ma's dedication to Following roles legacy for our organization. the often-arduous task of polishing and as a USVBA revising the rules of our sport, marked national official "It was a huge and sudden loss, the man him as a man of wisdom and learning, and a USVBA was a legend. In fact he was more than and earned him the respect and admira- Commissioner of that," the current president of the Rules of tion of those who had the pleasure to Region 7 in the work with him and to know him. 60's, Caplan became a mem- ber of the Olympic Volleyball Committee from 2003 USA Volleyball National Championships Dedicated to "Cappy" 1973-76. The 2003 USA Volleyball National Championships (May 24-31 in Minneapo- He was awarded the USVBA's Leader in lis, Minn.) will be dedicated to the memory of the annual tournament's most Volleyball Award in 1961, the Medallion durable player, Richard "Cappy" Caplan, who passed away recently, USA of Merit in 1972 and the Neville Booth Volleyball's Executive Committee has announced. Commissioner's Award in 1980. But the highlight of his career came in 1997, when he was inducted into the Volley- At the 1988 United States Volleyball National Championships, Caplan ball Hall of Fame in Holyoke, Massa- stepped up to serve for the Kenneth Allen Volleyball Club of Chicago at the age chusetts. of 75, marking his 50th consecutive national championship appearance. "Cappy" would return for two more national championship appearances, finally retiring from active play after his 52nd straight United States Volleyball www.fivb.org/ Association (USVBA) Open in 1990. Download X-Press electronically from our website at: www. fivb.org/ 2 FIVB X-Press No 113 April 2003 FIVB VOLLEYBALL A TOAST TO THAILAND! Hosting five tournaments in one season is a challenge for any country but for one THAILAND’S TOP FIVE of volleyball's developing countries, it is The 4th Asian Youth Girls' Championship (April 20-27) will be held in Sisaket City, part of an exciting growth period, which 700 km from Bangkok in the North Eastern Part of Thailand near Cambodia. is taking the country by storm. Last Result: 2001 Trang province (Thailand) - 1. China 2. Japan 3. South Korea. Thailand, with world rankings of 38 and The 1st Asian Women's Height Limited Competition (June 24-30) will be held in 12 for their respective men's and Pattani, the city with a mixed cultural of Thai, Malay and Chinese, which is located women's national indoor teams, is fast- in the southern part of Thailand 1,000 km from Bangkok. becoming a model for developing volley- ball countries. A home schedule of five The FIVB Boys' Under 19 World Championship (July international tournaments in six months 5-13) will be held in Suphanburi City, one of the most are a result of what can be achieved with historical cities in the central part of Thailand. It is 90 some initiative, hard work and passion. km from Bangkok.Last Result: 1999 Riyadih (Saudi Arabia) - 1. Russia 2. Venezuela 3. Poland With a population of 62 million, Thailand is the 18th most populated country in the The U-18 Beach Volleyball Championship (August world and has the 7th highest number of 27-30) at Cha-am Beach, one of the districts of Petch- licensed volleyball players but it is this aburi City, 140 km south of Bangkok.