The Global Volleyball Summit – For showing that when ‘Together as One’, sport can be such a powerful force for collaboration, integration, peace and solidarity
No.7: November 2024
Guest author: Fabio Azevedo
Fabio Azevedo is the President of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and brings over 30 years of dedication and leadership to the sport. Before his presidency, Mr Azevedo served as FIVB General Director for 11 years, playing a pivotal role in driving the organisation’s modernisation and expanding volleyball’s global influence.
Prior to his tenure at the FIVB, President Azevedo devoted nearly two decades to the Brazilian Volleyball Federation, where he helped shape one of the world’s most successful volleyball nations. His deep understanding of the sport, coupled with a passion for innovation and inclusivity has cemented his reputation as a transformative leader.
As FIVB President, Mr Azevedo is committed to developing volleyball even further, ensuring the sport continues to thrive as a unifying and inspiring force.
The FIVB recently held the inaugural Global Volleyball Summit which brought together leaders from the world of volleyball and sport to reflect, celebrate and discuss the future of the sport. For demonstrating that through courage, innovation, and an unwavering belief that sport can bring the world together, the Summit is JTA Communicator of the Month.
As the newly elected President of the FIVB, I am honoured to celebrate the inaugural Global Volleyball Summit as JTA Communicator of the Month for November. This historic event, held in the city of Porto during our 39th FIVB World Congress, was more than a meeting of minds; it was a living embodiment of our shared vision: Together as One.
The Summit brought together a diverse array of leaders from the FIVB family, the global volleyball community, and the Olympic Movement, uniting under a shared vision for the future of our sport. It aimed to facilitate the exchange of best practices and mutual learning to drive the collective empowerment of the Global Volleyball Movement. Each participant brought their own unique perspective, expertise, and passion to the event. Together they crafted a narrative of collaboration, empowerment, and innovation that captured the very essence of volleyball. As one of our speakers stated, “The world belongs to the storytellers.” And what a story we told together.
From the first address, the Summit demonstrated the dynamic and confident leadership that defines the Global Volleyball Movement. The programme tackled a wide range of critical topics, including communications, good governance, sustainability, and event strategy. Leaders from our commercial arm Volleyball World shared exciting updates on sponsorship, VBTV (Volleyball TV), and the strides we are making in digital transformation, all of which bring our sport closer to fans around the world.
We also heard from some of the most influential figures in the Olympic Movement. Kit McConnell, IOC Sports Director, reflected on volleyball’s extraordinary success at Paris 2024, remarking, “What you did…sets a precedent for sports.” His words are a testament to the boldness and innovation that we, as a volleyball community, hope to bring to every place our sport is played. Meanwhile, Michael R. Payne, former IOC Director of Marketing and Broadcast Rights, praised the atmosphere and connection volleyball creates, affirming, “No sport has created an act of participation with a spectator base like volleyball has.”
This Summit was a celebration of our collective achievements, but it was also a forward-looking declaration of our bold and realistic vision for the future. Guided by the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032, we aim to empower all stakeholders and expand the global volleyball ecosystem through our core pillars of Professionalism, Integration, Empowerment, and Mass Participation. These principles align seamlessly with volleyball’s values: collaboration, peace, integration and solidarity. Every participant at the Summit played a part in honing this vision, weaving their ideas into the overarching narrative.
One of my favourite takeaways from the Summit was how much we can communicate through meaningful action. Our initiatives, such as the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme, our sustainability vision and the FIVB Volleyball Foundation are all practical manifestations of our commitment to making volleyball a force for good. Whether it’s supporting National Federations, creating opportunities for players, or bringing joy to underserved communities, these efforts exemplify what it means to work ‘Together as One’.
This Summit was the first of many such gatherings, and I am excited to see how we will continue to build upon it. I hope that it sets a precedent not only for volleyball but for the world of sport at large. Communication takes many forms – written, spoken, or lived – and through these, we have the power to inspire positive societal change, strengthen communities, and shape an even brighter future for our world.
Picture credit: FIVB
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