Submitted by world-volleyball.com
A decisive time in volleyball’s first 100 years came with the founding of FIVB (Federation Internationale de Volleyball) in April 1947. Representatives from Belgium, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, France, Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Uruguay, USA, and Yugoslavia met in Paris to create the organization.
Mr. Libaud, President of the French Federation, was elected the first president and the headquarters were established in Paris, where it remained until 1984 when Mexico’s Dr. Rubén Acosta took over as president.
Courtesy: World of Volley
International championships began in 1949 for men and 1952 for women. The championships were met with enthusiasm and the game grew in popularity and participation.
A few years later–in 1957–the International Olympic Committee recognized FIVB as the governing body of the sport and also declared volleyball to be an Olympic sport. The first Olympic competitions took place (for both men and women) in Tokyo at the 1964 Games.
From 14 founding members, the FIVB grew to 45 in 1955, 89 in 1964, and 101 by 1968. Today, there are 220 affiliated federations around the globe.
FIVB manages and promotes all forms of volleyball and seaside volleyball by way of tournaments that include International Championships, International League, International Grand Prix, International Cup, Grand Champions Cup, Membership International Championships, FIVB Swatch International Excursion, FIVB Swatch, Seaside Volleyball Continental Cup, Seaside Volleyball International Cup, Junior and Early existence tournaments and, of course, the Olympics.
Viva, FIVB!
