The 2022 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship, starting on August 26, is to remain in Russia, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) confirmed.
A few days after the statement in which it said that it doesn’t intend to take away the organization of the next Men’s World Championship from Russia, the FIVB issued another statement in regard to this. This time, the governing body of world volleyball was even more clear, definitely confirming that the event will be held on Russian soil despite the Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
“The FIVB is working in close collaboration with the Russian Volleyball Federation and Organizing Committee Volleyball 2022 in preparation for various volleyball and beach volleyball events set to be held in the country which are progressing as planned. While the FIVB believes that sport should always remain separate from politics, we are closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all participants at our events which is our top priority,” the FIVB told Reuters, not answering whether it will impose some sanctions for the Russian federation or not, but the statement itself gave the indirect answer, which is no.
This practically means that all the other competitions in the near future under the FIVB will be played undisturbed in Russia, including the weekends of the Volleyball Nations League. This FIVB’s standpoint differs from some other governing sports bodies who canceled major events in Russia, such as the men’s UEFA Champions League final in football, which has been moved from Saint Petersburg to Paris, France.
