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The International Volleyball Federation, headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, recently hosted guests from the international sports community for its Volleyball Foundation launch event.
During the event, more than 559,000 Swiss francs were raised through donations and a special charity auction to support impactful volleyball projects around the world.
The most prominent guests include world leaders, the Olympic movement, local authorities, sponsors, partners, media figures and a number of invitees.
The event was marked by a special charity auction conducted by Piguet Auction House, where unique pieces of volleyball-related memorabilia were donated by the FIVB and legends of the game, through online bidding and live broadcast, bringing the auction to a large sum of 59,000 Swiss francs, in addition to 300,000. CHF from the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB),
£100,000 from the CVC Foundation, and generous contributions from IOC Member Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, FIVB Board Member and Australian Volleyball President Craig Carracher, brought the total funds raised to CHF 559,000.
Annual budget for 2025 and 2026
Dr. Ari A. announced Graça, President of the International Volleyball Federation, said that the Federation intends to allocate an annual budget of one million Swiss francs to the Volleyball Foundation in the years 2025 and 2026, provided that this is done based on the approval of the FIVB World Congress, which will be held later this year.
On this occasion, the President of the International Volleyball Federation and the Volleyball Foundation, Dr. Ari S. Graça, a speech in which he welcomed the guests and explained how the foundation will work to improve communication and expand the global volleyball community, which includes 800 million people in 222 countries.
Graca said: “The Volleyball Foundation will play a vital role in promoting positive social values, and helping to create a more cooperative and harmonious world. The Foundation is committed to creating a world in which everyone has access to sport, regardless of their gender, age, background or location, where it is available.” “They have the opportunity to be healthy and active, experience the fun of volleyball, and learn important skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.”
The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, praised the FIVB initiative and thanked Dr. Graça for his vision in launching the project. He said: “Through this project, volleyball can truly contribute to achieving Olympic values and making the world a better place through… Sports,” he added: “The International Olympic Committee is already working closely with the International Volleyball Federation through the Olympafrica and Olympic Refugee Foundation projects, and through this foundation this excellent cooperation can be strengthened.”
On this occasion, the Volleyball Foundation presented two pilot projects: the Brahmaputra Volleyball League in India, which is a grassroots community league, in which more than 10,000 children participate; and Githurai Kempo Volleyball Academy, which provides youth in one of the toughest slums in Nairobi, Kenya, with an escape through volleyball.
An independent Board of Directors has also been introduced for the Volleyball Foundation, which includes a diverse group of individuals dedicated to the Foundation’s vision of a better world through volleyball, namely:
– Dr. Ari S. Graça, President of the FIVB and Volleyball Foundation
– Fabio Azevedo, Director General of the International Volleyball Federation
– Alejandra Mireya Luis, Executive Vice President of FIVB, three-time Olympic medalist and two-time world champion
– Yuji Saeki, CEO of Mikasa and member of the FIVB Board of Directors
– Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Qatar Foundation and CEO of the Foundation
– Her Royal Highness Princess Aya bint Faisal of Jordan, President of the Jordanian Volleyball Federation and Member of the Board of Directors of the Jordanian Olympic Committee
– Nick Clary, Managing Partner at CVC
– Charles Joy, Secretary of the Board of Directors.
– Elizaveta Bracht, two-time Olympic silver medalist in volleyball, Executive Director of the Volleyball Foundation.
Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein: Volleyball is in a special position
Key supporters of the Volleyball Foundation were also announced, including renowned organizations such as KITT & KISS, MICASA, Decathlon, Qatar Foundation, Generations for Peace, and the Jordan Olympic Committee.
In recognition of his support, IOC Executive Board Member, President of the Jordanian Olympic Committee, and Founder and President of Generations for Peace, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein of Jordan, took to the podium and said: “In 2004, I went to the Olympic Games in Athens with the slogan: ‘Peace is greater than gold’ In 2007, to put this into practice, we founded Generations for Peace to use the power of sport to change divided societies for the better. What the Volleyball Foundation does is a continuation of this work, and that is why we are honored and pleased to collaborate with the Volleyball Foundation. ”
He added: “The values of respect, friendship, and cooperation are all lessons learned from sports. Volleyball is in a unique position because it embraces these values, along with communication and coordination. These things are vital in transforming suffering societies, and as President Ari S. Graça said, together we can Make a difference, and this institution will make a difference.”
Betty: Volleyball sets an example for others
The President of the Association of International Federations of the Summer Olympic Games (ASOIF), Francesco Ricci Petti, said: “As President of the ASOIF, I have had the honor of working with the FIVB and Dr. Arie S. Graça for five years.
