Download A time for change The picturesque setting of the Barcelo Bavaro

A time for change
The picturesque setting of the Barcelo Bavaro Beach Resort and Convention Centre in Punta Cana on the northern
coastline of the Dominican Republic provided the perfect backdrop to fruitful FIVB Executive Committee and
Board of Administration meetings early in April.
The annual FIVB Board of Administration meeting is, by definition, a time for change. It is the moment when
fresh ideas and new initiatives receive the seal of approval necessary for them to become part of Volleyball’s
future. After welcoming the Dominican Republic Minister of Sports Mr. Felipe Payano and the President of the
Dominican Republic National Olympic Committee Mr. Luis Mejia Oviedo, April’s three-day meeting on the home
soil of the NORCECA Confederation approved a variety of such proposals and confirmed a number of key
decisions.
“Thank you Punta Cana for being such a wonderful host,” said FIVB President Mr. Jizhong Wei following the
week-long visit. “The FIVB’s deepest gratitude goes to the President of the Dominican Republic his Excellency
Mr. Leonel Fernandez for his attention to the meeting. The Dominican Republic is not a big country but it is not
small in sport and it has proven admirably, how capable it is to host such an important meeting. It has been a very
important week for the FIVB and the hospitality of the Dominican Republic and the 1st Executive Vice-President
Mr. Cristobal Marte Hoffiz has been outstanding, enabling the Board and Executive Committee to work with the
utmost efficiency.”
One of the most significant outcomes from the Board of Administration meeting, which was preceded by the
FIVB Executive Committee meeting, was the provisional approval of new, transparent and democratic election
regulations for the 2012 Congress. These revolutionary regulations stipulate that FIVB elections are to take place
during the same year as the summer Olympic Games; FIVB confederations are to elect their board members via the
General Assembly; and a continental quota inside the FIVB Executive Committee with no less than two persons
per confederation is to be introduced. All changes require final approval by the 2010 FIVB Congress when it meets
in Rome, Italy from September 9-10. “This will be a democratic election,” said Mr. Wei who, having been
appointed FIVB President in 2008, has made it clear he will stand down in 2012. “I have advocated transparency
and fairness throughout the FIVB’s operations and the election in 2012 will be no different.”
If there was a theme to this year’s meeting it was development. Under the new direction of the FIVB,
responsibility has been put on the individual confederations for Volleyball and Beach Volleyball development and
general operations. In Punta Cana each confederation took the opportunity to explain the excellent work done over
the past year. This included a new ball donation system in which clubs in Japan send old equipment such as balls or
nets to the Japanese Volleyball Association which then distributes them to developing countries. President Wei
opened the meeting by explaining that the FIVB has to work for the national federations. “One of the goals of the
FIVB is to lead and to share,” he said. “Starting this year we’ll put a lot of financial resources for development and
reserve a development fund which will be available to all national federations and confederations. If a member has
a good idea, send the project to the FIVB for approval. All profit belongs to the national federation members so we
have the obligation to serve all our national federations and all our players. We have to go to the origin; the players
are our first priority.”
With this in mind the Board confirmed five of the seven members of a new FIVB Development Fund Steering
Committee, which will be responsible for evaluating proposed projects for funding from national federations. The
committee will meet for the first time on June 1st before holding another meeting during the 2010 World Congress.
“The development and health of the players and federations is the FIVB’s priority,” added President Wei. “The
FIVB Development Fund reflects this perfectly and will guarantee that the FIVB and all its members grow stronger
together.”
The Board also approved a new initiative to develop more female coaches in order to promote and develop
Volleyball, while the FIVB Medical Commission confirmed to members that the FIVB is fully compliant with the
WADA Anti-Doping Code and presented “Real Winner” - a web-based education programme for players,
coaches, medical personnel and officials.
Also very much under the spotlight in Punta Cana was the Olympic qualifying criteria for Volleyball and Beach
Volleyball, with the Board approving the qualification structure for the 2012 Olympic Games, pending approval
by the IOC while the Board also reflected on a very successful year for TV & Marketing in 2009 with all FIVB TV
properties increasing in sales revenue and major long term deals concluded.
FIVB EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 12-13 FIVB BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
MEETING APRIL 14-16
Key Decisions

Introduction of indoor Beach Volleyball events (not more than 20 per cent) on to the SWATCH FIVB
World Tour in order to provide increased opportunities to countries to host an event

Change in the Bonus Pool regulations which rewards loyalty with 130 per cent of Bonus Pool money
going to athletes who play in all SWATCH FIVB World Tour tournaments

Introduction of an end-of-year Beach Volleyball Festival to celebrate the international Beach Volleyball
year
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
Turkey, Peru and Brazil were announced as the respective hosts for the Girls’ Youth World
Championship, Women’s Junior World Championship and Men’s Junior World Championship respectively in
2011

Teams to be composed of 12 players on the team list for each match, including up to two liberos which
can be exchanged freely during a match

The introduction of a Golden Set, which will separate teams who are tied in a two-match series

Ranking points system used in the 2009 World League for the first time was approved for use in the 2010
World League and World Grand Prix and for all other FIVB competitions in 2011
FIVB OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION CRITERIA APPROVED BY THE BOARD
Volleyball
24 teams (12 for men and 12 for women) to qualify via the following:

One: Host country (Great Britain)

Three: 2011 World Cup (first, second and third)

Five: Continental Qualification Tournaments (played between December 15, 2011-January 15, 2012)

Three: Three World Olympic Qualification Tournaments Beach Volleyball
48 teams/countries (24 for men and 24 for women) to qualify via the following:

16: SWATCH FIVB World Tour rankings

Five: Continental Beach Volleyball World Cup

Two: FIVB Beach Volleyball World Cup Olympic Qualification

One: Host country (Great Britain) (if yet to qualify)
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