Ary Graca
According to the FIVB, this league will be organized in 2018, with 12 core teams and 4 challenger teams, playing 130 matches in total.
“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,” announces FIVB at their official website.
The Volleyball Nations League announcement took place in Paris and FIVB president Ary S. Graca had something to say:
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 revolutionize 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,” says the president of the FIVB, Ary Graca.
When we talk about the men’s competition, these eight 12 teams will make up the core teams: Brazil, Italy, the USA, China, Serbia, France, Argentina, Iran, Poland, Germany, Japan and Russia; The challenger teams will be: Australia, South Korea, Canada and Bulgaria.
In the women’s event, Brazil, Italy, the USA, China, Serbia, the Netherlands, Thailand, Turkey, South Korea, Germany, Japan and Russia will be 12 core nations, while Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Poland and Belgium will have the roles of the challenger teams.
More information about the competition will be unveiled in the future.
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0 comment
Another bad move for volleyball from people in FIVB who lost touch with reality. There is no Slovenia, Belgium, Cuba but we have Japan, China, Australia and South Korea who never win anything (men volleyball). Shame on FIVB, this has nothing to do with sport and volleyball excellence.
Re: @former_player
they are here just becuse of their money . a team like japan is important for fivb becuse it a great sponsor for it
Re: @former_player Japan supports volleyball more than any other nation, which means they do deserve to be there. Without money there would be no volleyball. Slovenia and Belgium does not support volleyball, they don`t have great sponsors and their arenas are usually empty.
Re: @Onou Why don’t start selling medals in volleyball so countries with money and no volleyball skills can actually get some?
Re: @Onou Like you said, without Japan there would be no volleyball. And that is really sad for volleyball to depend on one not-so volleyball country. On the other hand, it is sad that strong volleyball countries don’t have that possibility to make such an investment. But, be aware that in order to invest in volleyball it all starts inside your country and with the latest calendars it will be very difficult since the national championships’ calendars are getting so tight every year that we are about to witness the national championships lasting 3!!!!!!! months and no more instead of 6-7 months like in basket ball for example
Re: @Axe
Only in China the League last around 3 months ( but I think it goes even longer than that) Elsewhere it lasts around 6 months, It starts in October and goes until April/May.
Re: @former_player
I am Chinese. I feel shameful of this decision.
@onou
Very good for Japan if they invest heavily into sports. However to qualify somewhere one should prove quality on the field, not in the bank.
If I understand you correctly any qualifications for any competition/championship/… are out of line. Why not simply organize auction? Perhaps even an auction for places on the podium instead of competition (think Olympics, World Championships etc.)?