PARIS, France, 12 October, 2017 - The International Volleyball
Federation (FIVB) today announced the Volleyball Nations League,
which is set to begin in 2018. The league will revolutionise
volleyball competitions, making it one of the most important
events in the history of the sport.
The
Volleyball Nations League – a joint project between the FIVB,
IMG and 21 national federations – will present volleyball in a
way that has never been experienced before, building on the
innovative sports presentation on display at the Rio 2016
Olympic Games.
In
both the men’s and women’s leagues, 12 core teams and 4
challenger teams will battle to become Volleyball Nations League
champion by playing in a round robin format. With a total of 130
matches throughout the league season, every team will play a
minimum of 15 matches and each core nation will host at least
one pool, bringing the action closer to fans around the world.
By
pushing the boundaries of technology, innovation and digital
broadcasting, spectators at home will witness new and diverse
angles, showcasing the world class athleticism of each nation’s
best players.
For
the very first time, the FIVB, in collaboration with IMG, will
take complete control of content production, maximising quality
and promoting a compelling, on-court narrative, which is easy
for fans to engage with and understand.
The
FIVB will ensure in-stadium interaction by implementing a new
concept called active engagement, where fans are involved in
every rally. When there is a fantastic sporting moment,
spectators celebrate it by imitating match situations like the
Monster Block, which has already been embraced by fans across
the globe.
Speaking at the FIVB’s 70th anniversary celebrations in Paris,
where the Volleyball Nations League announcement took place,
FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça said:
“This
is a pivotal moment in the future of our sport. The Volleyball
Nations League is the most important competition in the FIVB’s
history and will revolutionise how volleyball is presented;
making it more fan-centric and placing our fans, both inside and
outside the stadium, at the very heart of the action.
“The
FIVB has enjoyed great success over the last 70 years;
volleyball has grown to become one of the most popular and
widely practised sports in the world. But, we must always look
forward and find ways to evolve and innovate as we aim to become
the world’s number one family sport. The Volleyball Nations
League will help us to achieve our vision and set the standard
for athlete and viewer experience.”
Ioris
Francini, co-President of WME|IMG, said: “This is a very
exciting development for the FIVB and we are delighted to play a
pivotal role in the Volleyball Nations League. This unique
initiative and format heralds a new era for the sport and will
produce an even better experience for all concerned, from the
teams and players to fans and viewers watching on various media
platforms.
In
the men’s event, Brazil, Italy, the USA, China, Serbia, France,
Argentina, Iran, Poland, Germany, Japan and Russia make up the
core teams, while Australia, South Korea, Canada and Bulgaria
are the four designated challenger teams.
For
the women’s competition, Brazil, Italy, the USA, China, Serbia,
the Netherlands, Thailand, Turkey, South Korea, Germany, Japan
and Russia comprise the 12 core nations. Argentina, the
Dominican Republic, Poland and Belgium have also been selected
as challenger teams.
The
aim of the Volleyball Nations League is to raise the level of
the sporting action for fans and provide a world class platform
for athletes to compete and grow. Launching a men’s and women’s
competition under the same name and format promotes equality in
volleyball, while also making it simpler and more engaging to
follow.
As
well as the Volleyball Nations League, there will also be a
secondary, Challenger League, incorporating promotion and
relegation to guarantee that volleyball remains the most
competitive and engaging, multi-gender sport in the world.
More
information on the logo, sponsors and venues will be unveiled in
the near future.
