Dr Ary Graça recorded 103 out of 204 eligible votes
Dr Graça, who is president of the Brazil Volleyball Federation and the South America Confederation and a member of the FIVB Board of Administration, recorded 103 votes, with USA Volleyball CEO Doug Beal obtaining 86 and Australia Volleyball Federation President Chris Schacht 15.
Former FIVB President Jizhong Wei promised the FIVB’s first democratic election and that was exactly what happened with each federation voting by secret ballot with a choice of three candidates.
“Dear friends, dear colleagues,” President Graça told the Congress. “I would like to address my thanks for those who trusted me, for those who voted for me and I would like to thank most of all President Wei, who is always saying the FIVB is undergoing an evolution. I think FIVB had a revolution. Today was a demonstration of the revolution we have had. All of you had the right to talk today to transmit ideas, this was demonstrated. I believe in democracy. I believe that 220 persons thinking, is much better than one person as a so called dictator. Business is much better with a lot of people, new ideas is much better with a lot of people.
“Mr Wei is a very wise man, he taught me lot. I thank all my colleagues on the Board. You can be sure what was aid on the podium will be done. We will prepare the FIVB in a modern era following the work President Wei has done. In that way it will be an evolution. We are here tomorrow to make our sport one of the biggest in the world. So my friends from the bottom of my heart I would like to thank you for those who trust me and those who will trust me in the future. Thank you.”
Honorary President Wei added in his closing remarks: “My dear colleagues, in a general satisfaction our Congress is closed. I will like to congratulate you all for electing your new president and your new leading team. Now, a new era is opened by you and for you. You have all made this congress successful. Here I would like to thank you. I would like to thank the USOC and USA Volleyball for providing us with the best conditions for the congress. Thank you to the FIVB staff here or not here, working together with me, very, very hard over the past four years. I’m sure that the FIVB will continue to develop thanks to your common effort. I will be a volunteer and ready serve you at anytime.”
Earlier, the two minority gender positions on the FIVB Board of Administration were confirmed with Mrs Marta Centeno O. De Sajche (Guatemala) and Mrs Rita Subowo (Indonesia) elected by the general assembly minority following the withdrawal of the candidature of Mrs Vilja Savisaar-Toomast (Estonia).
The FIVB Congress also ratified the new FIVB Board of Administration which consists of 31 members comprising 29 elected by the Continental Confederation’s General Assembly and the gender in minority positions. The 29 elected continental members are the following:
Africa Dr. Amr Elwani (EGY), Habu Gumel (NGR), Louis Timba (CAM) and Issiaka Sawadogo (BUR)
Asia: Dr Saleh Bin Nasser (UAE), Essa Hamza Ahmad Al Failakawi (KUW), Yi Cai (CHN), Shanrit Wongprasert (THA), Dr Sivanthi Adityan (IND), Taizaburo Nakano (JPN) and Chris Schacht (AUS)
Europe: Andre Meyer (LUX), Aleksandar Boricic (SRB), Miroslaw Przedpelski (POL), Renato Arena (ITA), Philip Berben (BEL), Stanislav Shevchenko (RUS), Vicente de Araujo (POR), Theofanis Tsiokris (GRE) and Agustin Martin Santos (ESP)
NORECA: Cristobal Marte Hoffiz (DOM), Saul Castro Verdugo (MEX), Douglas Beal (USA), Mushtaque Mohammed (TRI) and Hugh Wong (CAN)
South America: Rafael Lloreda (COL), Roberto Escobar (PAR), Julio Perez (URU) and one vacancy for CSV to be confirmed
The FIVB Executive Committee, which is composed of 12 members – five confederation presidents and five members proposed by the President, plus the gender in minority persons – and the President, was also confirmed with the following persons appointed:
Africa Dr. Amr Elwani (EGY), Habu Gumel (NGR)
Asia: Dr Saleh Bin Nasser (UAE), Essa Hamza Ahmad Al Failakawi (KUW)
Europe: Andre Meyer (LUX), Aleksandar Boricic (SRB),
NORECA: Cristobal Marte Hoffiz (DOM), Saul Castro Verdugo (MEX)
South America: Rafael Lloreda (COL), Roberto Escobar (PAR),
Plus two co-opted members for the upcoming World Championships:
Carlos Magri ITA)
Miroslaw Przedpelski (POL)
The 1st executive vice-president was also confirmed as Cristobal Marte Hoffiz (DOM), the 2nd executive vice-president André Meyer (LUX) and the treasurer as Dr. Amr Elwani (EGY).
Honorary titles were also given as follows:
Honorary president for life Jizhong Wei (CHN) and advisor to the Board of Administration
Honorary vice-president Theofanis Tsiokris (GRE)
Honorary vice-president Sivanthi Adityan (IND)
The first FIVB Congress took place in Paris, France in 1947 when Mr Paul Libaud was elected as the FIVB’s first President.
FIVB President history:
Mr Paul Libaud (France) 1947-1984
Dr. Ruben Acosta (Mexico) 1984-2008
Mr Jizhong Wei (China) 2008-2012
Dr Ary Graça (Brazil) 2012-
