Fédération Internationale de Volleyball

The International Volleyball Federation (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball), known by the acronym FIVB, is the main organization that oversees all kinds of volleyball. It helps make rules, organize big tournaments, and develop the sport around the world. The FIVB works with countries and regions to ensure fair play and to grow the popularity of volleyball.

Its main office is in Lausanne, Switzerland, a city that is home to many international sports organizations. The current leader of the FIVB is Fabio Azevedo from Brazil, who works with teams and players to improve the sport.

The FIVB has been very important in making volleyball a worldwide favorite. It organizes major events like the FIVB Volleyball World Championship and helps young athletes learn and compete at the highest levels. Thanks to the FIVB, volleyball is now played by millions of people in many countries.

History

Before the FIVB was created, volleyball was managed by the International Amateur Handball Federation. The FIVB was started in France in April 1947. Back then, many European countries wanted a special group just for volleyball. They met in 1947, and fourteen countries from five continents agreed to create the FIVB. A man named Paul Libaud from France became the first leader.

The first big volleyball event, the World Championship, happened in 1949. A tournament just for women started in 1952. In 1964, volleyball became an Olympic sport. By then, 89 countries were part of the FIVB. In 1969, they added another event called the World Cup.

In 1984, Rubén Acosta Hernandez from Mexico became the new leader, and the FIVB moved its office from Paris, France to Lausanne, Switzerland. Under his leadership, they added new competitions and made volleyball more popular all over the world. In 2008, Wei Jizhong from China took over as leader.

As of 2020^[update], the FIVB had 222 member countries. In 2022, because of the conflict in Ukraine, the FIVB stopped all Russian teams and athletes from taking part in its events.

Tournaments

Indoor

Beach

Some of the big beach volleyball events include the Olympic Games, which have been held every four years since 1996, and the World Championship, held every two years since 1997. There is also the World Tour that happens every year, starting in 1989. Other events include the Youth Olympic Games, U23 World Championships, U21 World Championships, U19 World Championships, and U17 World Championships, all of which are held regularly.

The FIVB helps plan and organize volleyball events around the world. They work with other international groups to set rules for tournaments, decide which teams can play, and choose where the games will happen. They also support volleyball in places where it isn’t very popular, offering help with training and equipment. The FIVB holds many workshops and courses for coaches, referees, and teachers to help grow the sport.

They also work to make volleyball more popular worldwide by finding media partners and sponsors. Recently, they started a campaign called “FIVB Heroes” in Rome, using posters and statues of top beach volleyball players to show off the athletes. The FIVB makes sure the rules for volleyball are the same everywhere and handles important issues like fair play and player transfers. They also publish the FIVB World Rankings, which help decide how teams are placed in international competitions.

Current champions

Nations

Clubs

Beach volleyball

Intercontinental events

Under-age events

Rankings

Further information: FIVB Senior World Rankings

Other events

The FIVB helps run volleyball at several big regional competitions. These include the Asian Games, European Games, Pan American Games, Lusophony Games, and All-Africa Games.

Organization

The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) is the main organization that oversees volleyball around the world. It holds a World Congress every two years where members elect the President and other leaders.

The Board of Administration manages the FIVB's overall work, making sure national teams and other groups work together well. There is also an Executive Committee that helps with important tasks.

The FIVB has several groups to handle different areas like rules, finance, and medical matters. It also oversees five big regions of the world, each with its own volleyball group:

• Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) in Asia and Oceania
• Confederación Sudamericana de Voleibol (CSV) in South America
• African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) in Africa
• European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) in Europe
• North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) in North America

Each of these regions helps organize volleyball in their own areas.

Further information: Category:National members of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball

FIVB Heroes

The "FIVB Heroes" is an official campaign by the FIVB. It helps show the amazing skills of volleyball players and get more people around the world excited about the sport. The campaign includes 33 volleyball players and 29 beach volleyball players from 19 different countries. They were chosen because they performed really well in their games.

FIVB presidents

The International Volleyball Federation, known as the FIVB, has had several leaders over the years. Paul Libaud from France served from 1947 to 1984. Rubén Acosta Hernández from Mexico led from 1984 to 2008. Wei Jizhong from China was president from 2008 to 2012. Ary Graça from Brazil served from 2012 to 2024. Currently, Fabio Azevedo from Brazil is the president, taking office in 2024 and continuing today.

Sponsors