As the election day for the prestigious and highly responsible position of CEV President draws near, the candidates for the presidency of the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) have been announced. Among them is Roko Sikirić, a former professional volleyball player and Croatian national team member, who also served as a sports director at a prestigious European club and as a CEV employee. Sikirić is the first candidate to publicly declare his candidacy and has presented a detailed program, promising accountability if elected. With extensive experience within the CEV system in operational positions, Sikirić is seen as a long-term solution, aiming to bring new energy and ideas to European volleyball.
Initially, the name of Italian Renato Arena also surfaced in the pre-election discussions. Arena, a long-time member of the leading structures of the CEV and one of the most influential members of the current president Aleksandar Boricic’s team, is a significant contender.
Another prominent candidate is Leszek Leo Wencel, nominated by the Polish Volleyball Federation. Wencel, a member of the Polish Volleyball Federation’s board and a businessman with rich international experience, emphasized the importance of combining a passion for the sport with business acumen.
The fourth candidate is Danish Eric Adler. Adler, who currently shares the position of vice president of the Confederation with Arena, has been a key figure in the Danish Federation since 1996 and joined the CEV Board of Administration in 2002. Serving as vice president and treasurer of the Confederation since 2020, Adler played a important role in organizing the 2013 European Championship, co-hosted by Denmark and Poland.
The long-serving CEV President Aleksandar Boricic’s term will end with this election, marking a pivotal moment for European volleyball, potentially charting a new course or continuing the path led by Boricic. The election, set to be held in Naples on August 24, will undoubtedly be a defining moment for the future of European volleyball.
