Transparency Core to the Future of Volleyball

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, January 19, 2018 – During his meeting with the FIVB Legal Commission, President Dr. Ary S. Graça F° spoke of the importance of good governance and transparency throughout all areas of the sport.

The Legal Commission is presided over by Jaime Lamboy of Puerto Rico and NORCECA is also represented by Sabinah Clement of British Virgin Islands.

Volleyball is considered one of the most popular sports in the world, having been the most watched competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, according to official IOC data. However, President Graça urged his colleagues to be vigilant as the FIVB continues to work towards being the world’s number one family sport.

"The world of sport in radically changing, and we need to continue working with a fresh mentality for the benefit of our sport. Throughout our Commissions meetings, it is so important that we talk about good governance at the FIVB," President Graça said. "I want to make sure that everything we do is transparent, so there can be no doubting the integrity of volleyball, beach volleyball, or the FIVB as a federation."

In November 2015, the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) created a Governance Task Force to support International Federations in their provision for a healthy governance culture. FIVB Secretary General Fernando Lima is a member of the Task Force, which reinforces the FIVB's commitment to leading the way on transparency.

"We are constantly working to improve the FIVB’s regulations, learning from other models of good governance, both within sport and outside," Lima said. "It is our responsibility as an International Federation to serve the sport that we love, and that is why meeting as a Commission is so valuable."

Over the next two weeks, several Commissions will gather in Lausanne to discuss each area of the FIVB's governance. The Commissions meetings conclude on January 31, 2018.