In a significant meeting last week, FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça F° was warmly welcomed by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach to the Olympic House. Their discussions focused on the FIVB’s significant progress under President Dr Ary S. Graça F°’s leadership, as well as the soon-to-be-launched FIVB Volleyball Foundation.
Also present at the meeting were IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell, FIVB General Director Fabio Azevedo and FIVB Volleyball Foundation Advisor Elizaveta Bracht.
The FIVB President introduced the FIVB Volleyball Foundation to President Bach, highlighting its focus on mass participation, social and humanitarian projects. The two leaders also explored potential areas of future cooperation between the Volleyball Foundation and Olympism365 and the Olympic Refuge Foundation.
In their discussions, the FIVB President provided an update on the expansive Volleyball Empowerment and Development programme, where over CHF 27 million has been invested in close to 1,000 projects across nearly 200 countries in a fully transparent way. IOC President Bach acknowledged the success of the programme.
President Bach also praised the FIVB’s forward-thinking mentality, which has seen a number of significant milestones passed, including the partnership with CVC Capital Partners and creation of Volleyball World.
Finally, the IOC President presented IOC Member and FIVB Board of Administration member Cecilia Tait Villacorta with an OLY diploma, followed by her participation in the Olympians Wall signing ceremony.